Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

दीपकाप्रीतिचन्द्राढ्या द्विधा चेद्रञ्जितापुनः । वतिवह्निप्रियामंत्रो धूमावत्या गजाक्षरः ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

dīpakāprīticandrāḍhyā dvidhā cedrañjitāpunaḥ | vativahnipriyāmaṃtro dhūmāvatyā gajākṣaraḥ || 155 ||

Translation

„(Eine Mantra-Gestalt), bereichert mit ‘Lampe’, ‘Geliebte’ und ‘Mond’; wird sie in zwei Teile gespalten und dann nochmals ‘gefärbt/getönt’, so erhält man das Mantra, das Vati und dem Feuer lieb ist; und zusammen mit Dhūmāvatī bringt es die ‘Elefanten-Silbe’ hervor.“

Word by Word

• दीपका-प्रीति-चन्द्र-आढ्या: endowed with (the terms) dīpakā, prīti, candra
• दीपका-प्रीति-चन्द्र-आढ्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपका (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्त्र/विद्या-नामरूपे): ‘दीपकाप्रीतिचन्द्रैः आढ्या’ (endowed with/containing the words dīpakā, prīti, candra)

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): द्विप्रकारेण (in two ways)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conditional particle): यदि (if)

• रञ्जिता: colored/pleased
• रञ्जिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘colored/pleased’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): पुनरपि (again)

• वति-वह्नि-प्रिया-मन्त्रः: the mantra (with the words) vati, vahni, priyā
• वति-वह्नि-प्रिया-मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वति (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वति-वह्नि-प्रिया’ इति पदैः युक्तः मन्त्रः (a mantra containing/connected with vati, vahni, priyā)

• धूमावत्या: by/with Dhūmāvatī
• धूमावत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूमावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/सह (by/with Dhūmāvatī)

• गज-अक्षरः: the syllable ‘gaja’
• गज-अक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘गजस्य अक्षरः’ / ‘गज-नामाक्षरः’ (the syllable/letter ‘gaja’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga/mantra-vidya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Dhūmāvatī

FAQs

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

It presents mantra-vidyā as a disciplined, rule-based science where specific named elements and syllables (akṣaras) are combined to produce a targeted mantra, emphasizing precision in sacred speech.

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

Indirectly: by treating mantra as a valid support for worship, it frames devotion as strengthened through correct recitation and correct mantra-form, which purifies attention and steadies the mind in sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Akṣara-based construction and splitting/combining of terms (a vyākaraṇa-like method) used for mantra formation—showing a technical approach to phonetics and linguistic derivation applied to ritual practice.