Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

क्षुत्पिपासार्दितां नित्यं भयदां कलहप्रियाम् । एवंविधां तु संचिंत्य नमः स्वाहा फडंतकम् ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

kṣutpipāsārditāṃ nityaṃ bhayadāṃ kalahapriyām | evaṃvidhāṃ tu saṃciṃtya namaḥ svāhā phaḍaṃtakam || 160 ||

Translation

তাঁকে নিত্য ক্ষুধা-তৃষ্ণায় কাতর, ভয়দায়িনী ও কলহপ্রিয়া রূপে ধ্যান করে—এমন রূপ চিন্তা করে—শেষে উচ্চারণ করবে: ‘নমঃ, স্বাহা, ফড্’।

Word by Word

• kṣut-pipāsā-arditām: afflicted by hunger and thirst
• kṣut-pipāsā-arditām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣut (प्रातिपदिक) + pipāsā (प्रातिपदिक) + ardita (कृदन्त; √ard धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (kṣut-pipāsābhyām arditā)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• bhaya-dām: giving fear/terrifying
• bhaya-dām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक dā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (bhayaṃ dadāti iti)

• kalaha-priyām: fond of quarrel
• kalaha-priyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalaha (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (kalahaḥ priyaḥ yasyāḥ)

• evaṃ-vidhām: of such a form
• evaṃ-vidhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः अव्ययीभावः (evaṃ-vidhā = of such a kind)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• saṃcintya: having contemplated
• saṃcintya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√cint (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund)

• namaḥ: obeisance
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayoga (प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle)

• svāhā: svāhā
• svāhā: Mantra-pada (मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svāhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; होम-मन्त्र-निपात (exclamation used in offerings)

• phaṭ: phaṭ
• phaṭ: Mantra-pada (मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: phaṭ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-निपात (mantric exclamation)

• antakam: the end/destroyer (death)
• antakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional tone on mantra-prayoga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It prescribes a protective mantra-ending (phaḍ) after visualizing a hostile, fear-producing force, indicating a ritual method to neutralize negativity through disciplined contemplation and mantra closure.

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

While primarily technical, it reflects bhakti through the act of “namaḥ” (reverent surrender) and disciplined mantra-use—placing protection and purification under sacred utterance rather than mere fear or anger.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual phonetics: the functional use of svāhā (offering-marker) and phaḍ (repelling/protective syllable) as a concluding safeguard in a rite.