Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

शांतिः पुष्टिः पुनस्तुष्टिमार्तगंपदशेखरा । मूलमन्त्रं पृथङ्न्यस्येन्निजमूर्द्धनि मन्त्रवित् ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

śāṃtiḥ puṣṭiḥ punastuṣṭimārtagaṃpadaśekharā | mūlamantraṃ pṛthaṅnyasyennijamūrddhani mantravit || 120 ||

Translation

Nachdem Śānti (Frieden), Puṣṭi (Nährung) und wiederum Tuṣṭi (Zufriedenheit) angerufen sind—gekrönt vom höchsten Stand—soll der Mantra-Kenner das Wurzelmantra gesondert durch Nyāsa auf seinem eigenen Haupt einsetzen.

Word by Word

• शान्तिः: Śānti (a name)
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुष्टिः: Puṣṭi (a name)
• पुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (again/further)

• तुष्टिमार्तगंपदशेखरा: Tuṣṭi-mārtagaṃ-padaśekharā (a compound name)
• तुष्टिमार्तगंपदशेखरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि + मार्तगम् + पद + शेखरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (समासः; पाठभेद/दुर्लभसमास)

• मूलमन्त्रम्: the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मूलः मन्त्रः

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (separately)

• न्यस्येत्: should place/assign
• न्यस्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निजमूर्द्धनि: on one’s own head
• निजमूर्द्धनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: निजस्य मूर्द्धा (locative)

• मन्त्रवित्: the knower of mantra
• मन्त्रवित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (विद्-प्रत्ययान्त)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-practice is not merely recitation: through nyāsa the sādhaka ritually installs the root-mantra in the body, beginning with the head, aligning mind and consciousness with peace, nourishment, and inner contentment.

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

By emphasizing disciplined mantra-upāsanā—placing the deity’s root-mantra with awareness—devotion becomes embodied and steady, producing śānti (calm), puṣṭi (spiritual strength), and tuṣṭi (satisfaction) that support sustained bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual technique: nyāsa (mantra-installation on specific body parts). This reflects the applied, procedural side of Vedic practice preserved in Narada Purana’s technical sections.