Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 152

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

वश्याय च प्रियत्वाय हुताश्च तिलकीकृताः । निर्गुंडीमूलहोमेन निगडान्मुच्यते नरः ॥ १५२ ॥

Transliteration

vaśyāya ca priyatvāya hutāśca tilakīkṛtāḥ | nirguṃḍīmūlahomena nigaḍānmucyate naraḥ || 152 ||

Translation

Um jemanden unter Einfluss zu bringen und Zuneigung zu gewinnen, soll man im heiligen Feuer Opfergaben darbringen und die geweihte Substanz als Tilaka auf die Stirn setzen. Durch ein Homa mit der Wurzel der Nirguṇḍī wird der Mensch von Fesseln befreit.

Word by Word

• वश्याय: for subjugation/bringing under control
• वश्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (for the purpose/for)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रियत्वाय: for becoming dear/for affection
• प्रियत्वाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

• हुताः: (are) offered/sacrificed
• हुताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे (as ‘having been offered’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तिलकीकृताः: made into a tilaka/used as a forehead mark
• तिलकीकृताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘तिलकं कृताः’ (made into a tilaka/marked)

• निर्गुंडी-मूल-होमेन: by the homa with nirguṇḍī root
• निर्गुंडी-मूल-होमेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्गुंडी (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental): ‘निर्गुंड्याः मूलस्य होमः’ (homa with the root of nirguṇḍī)

• निगडात्: from fetters/shackles
• निगडात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative: from)

• मुच्यते: is freed/released
• मुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is released’

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the technical/ritual section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nirguṇḍī
• Agni (homa/fire)

FAQs

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

It presents a ritual-technical claim that specific homa materials and their consecrated use (including tilaka) are said to produce defined outcomes—culminating in the theme of release from bondage (nigaḍa), a recurring puranic concern even in practical prayoga sections.

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

This verse is primarily a prayoga (ritual application) rather than a direct bhakti teaching; indirectly, it reflects the puranic view that disciplined sacred acts performed with faith and proper procedure can remove obstacles and suffering, which supports steadiness in devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (homa and consecration into tilaka) and the technical use of specific herbal substances—typical of the Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 focus on practical sciences aligned with Vedic ritual knowledge.