Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 104

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

अमुकं मे वशं पश्चादानयानलसुन्दरी । अष्टाशीत्यक्षरो मन्त्रो मुन्याद्या भैरवीगताः ॥ १०४ ॥

Transliteration

amukaṃ me vaśaṃ paścādānayānalasundarī | aṣṭāśītyakṣaro mantro munyādyā bhairavīgatāḥ || 104 ||

Translation

„Bringe den-und-den (jene Person) unter meine Gewalt und führe ihn/sie danach zu mir, o Anala-sundarī.“ Dies ist ein Mantra von achtundachtzig Silben; Weise und andere haben es, so heißt es, durch die Bhairavī-Überlieferung empfangen.

Word by Word

• अमुकम्: such-and-such (person/thing)
• अमुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्राय (indefinite ‘such-and-such’)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• वशम्: control/subjugation
• वशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (afterwards)

• आनय: bring (here)
• आनय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अनल-सुन्दरी: O Anala-sundarī (fair one named/like ‘Anala’)
• अनल-सुन्दरी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल-सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रायः (vocative sense possible); कर्मधारयः (अनला इव सुन्दरी/अनलसम्बद्धा सुन्दरी)

• अष्टा-शीति-अक्षरः: having eighty-eight syllables
• अष्टा-शीति-अक्षरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टा-शीति-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्टाशीति = 88; 88 अक्षराणि यस्य)

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुनि-आद्याः: sages and others
• मुनि-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मुनयः आद्याः येषां/मुनयः च आदयः)

• भैरवी-गताः: having entered/attained Bhairavī
• भैरवी-गताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरवी-गत (गम् धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्तार्थे (gone/entered); समासः तत्पुरुषः (भैरवीं गताः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-mantric context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Bhairavī
• Anala-sundarī
• Munis

FAQs

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

It highlights mantra-śāstra as a technical discipline: mantras are defined by precise wording and akṣara (syllable) count, and their efficacy is tied to a recognized transmission (here, Bhairavī-gata).

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

Indirectly: it contrasts technical mantra-prayoga with the broader Purāṇic ideal that spiritual progress ultimately rests on disciplined practice and right intention; this verse sits in a technical section rather than a direct Vishnu-bhakti exhortation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Phonetic and formal precision—counting akṣaras and preserving exact mantra wording—aligns with Śikṣā (pronunciation) and the wider technical rigor associated with Vedāṅga-style instruction.