Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

मालतीबकुलोद्भूतैः पुष्पैश्चन्दनलोलितैः । जुहुयात्कवितां मन्त्री लभते वत्सरांतरे ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

mālatībakulodbhūtaiḥ puṣpaiścandanalolitaiḥ | juhuyātkavitāṃ mantrī labhate vatsarāṃtare || 89 ||

Translation

وبأزهار المالاتي والبكولا المدهونة بخشب الصندل، على العارف بالمانترا أن يقدّم القرابين في النار؛ وخلال سنة ينال إلهام الشعر (كافيتا).

Word by Word

• मालती-बकुल-उद्भूतैः: arisen from mālatī and bakula (flowers/trees)
• मालती-बकुल-उद्भूतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालती (प्रातिपदिक) + बकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; उद्+भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘पुष्पैः’ इति — masculine, Instrumental plural

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — neuter, Instrumental plural

• चन्दन-लोलितैः: smeared with sandalwood
• चन्दन-लोलितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + लोलित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; लोल्/लोलय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘पुष्पैः’ इति — masculine, Instrumental plural; ‘smeared/anointed with sandal’

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — optative, 3rd singular, parasmaipada

• कविताम्: poetic skill/poetry
• कविताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कविता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — feminine, Accusative singular

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — masculine, Nominative singular

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — present indicative, 3rd singular, ātmanepada

• वत्सर-अन्तरे: within a year
• वत्सर-अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — neuter, Locative singular; ‘within a year’s interval’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/ritual-application context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a ritualized discipline where purity of offerings (flowers anointed with sandalwood) and mantra-guided homa are said to refine speech and intellect, culminating in kavitā (poetic inspiration) as a siddhi attained through sustained practice.

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

Though technical in tone, it implies devotional reverence expressed through fragrant, pure offerings and mantra-ritual; the fruit (kavitā) is treated as a grace-like attainment that arises from disciplined worship and sustained sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual procedure (kalpa-style practice) and mantra-usage—how specific substances and precise offerings in homa are linked to a targeted result (speech/poetic capacity), aligning with Vedanga-oriented technical instruction.