Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

गिरिकर्णीभवैः पुष्पैर्ब्राह्यणान्वशयेद्धुतैः । कह्लारैः पार्थिवान्पुष्पैस्तद्वधूः कर्णिकारजैः ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

girikarṇībhavaiḥ puṣpairbrāhyaṇānvaśayeddhutaiḥ | kahlāraiḥ pārthivānpuṣpaistadvadhūḥ karṇikārajaiḥ || 84 ||

Translation

بزهورٍ مولودةٍ من الجِرِيكَرْنِي إذا أُحرِقت قُربانًا في النار المقدّسة يُستمال البراهمة؛ وبزهور الكَهْلارا وسائر الزهور الأرضية يُستمال الملوك؛ وبأزهار الكَرْنِيكارا تُنال العروس المنشودة.

Word by Word

• गिरि-कर्णी-भवैः: with flowers born of girikarṇī (a plant)
• गिरि-कर्णी-भवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्णी (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (कृदन्त; √भू (धातु), क्त/तद्धितार्थे ‘भव’ = ‘उत्पन्न’)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘गिरिकर्ण्याः भवाः’—गिरिकर्णी-सम्भव

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणान्: brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वशयेत्: should bring under control
• वशयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वश् (धातु) (कारणार्थे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative) भावः—‘वशं नयेत्’

• धुतैः: purified/washed
• धुतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुत (कृदन्त; √धू (धातु), क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त—‘शोधित/प्रक्षालित’

• कह्लारैः: with kahlāra flowers (lotus kind)
• कह्लारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कह्लार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पार्थिवान्: kings/earthly rulers
• पार्थिवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्: that/its
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन (तद्-वधूः)

• वधूः: a bride/woman
• वधूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्णिकार-जैः: born from karṇikāra (flowers)
• कर्णिकार-जैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्णिकार (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त/तद्धित; √जन् (धातु) भावे ‘ज’ = ‘उत्पन्न’)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कर्णिकारात् जात’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructional sequence on ritual/technical applications)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Parthiva (king)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes dravya-niyama—choosing the proper ritual substance (here, specific flowers) as a technical component of dharmic rites, showing that intention in worship is supported by precise ritual means.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While framed as a ritual prayoga, it implies that devotional acts (offerings) become more effective when performed with correct upacāra and discipline, aligning external worship with purposeful devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure (a Vedāṅga application): selection of materials for homa/offerings and the expected phala (result) tied to specific dravyas.