Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

ततो धूमावतीं ध्यायेच्छत्रुनिग्रहकारिणीम् । विवर्णां चंचलां दुष्टां दीर्घां च मलिनांबराम् ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

tato dhūmāvatīṃ dhyāyecchatrunigrahakāriṇīm | vivarṇāṃ caṃcalāṃ duṣṭāṃ dīrghāṃ ca malināṃbarām || 157 ||

Translation

Dann soll man Dhūmāvatī, die Göttin, welche die Feinde bezwingt, meditativ schauen—bleich und verfärbt, ruhelos, wild, hochgewachsen und in beschmutzte Gewänder gekleidet.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• dhūmāvatīm: Dhūmāvatī (the goddess)
• dhūmāvatīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūmāvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

• dhyāyet: should meditate (on)
• dhyāyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.)

• śatru-nigraha-kāriṇīm: who causes the subjugation of enemies
• śatru-nigraha-kāriṇīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + nigraha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śatrūṇāṃ nigrahaḥ—tasya kāriṇī)

• vivarṇām: pale/discolored
• vivarṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• caṃcalām: restless
• caṃcalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṃcala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• duṣṭām: wicked/evil
• duṣṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dīrghām: tall/long
• dīrghām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• malina-aṃbarām: wearing soiled garments / with dirty clothing
• malina-aṃbarām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: malina (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃbara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (malinam aṃbaram yasyāḥ / malinam aṃbaram)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-dhyana sequence, within the Narada Purana’s Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Dhūmāvatī

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific devatā-dhyāna (deity visualization) of Dhūmāvatī, emphasizing her role as a force that restrains hostile influences; the “austere” iconography signals withdrawal, severity, and protective power rather than worldly beauty.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of focused meditation (dhyāna) and reverent contemplation of the deity’s attributes; devotion is expressed through disciplined visualization aligned with the intended spiritual or protective purpose.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical application of mantra-śāstra and dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) used in ritual practice—how specific forms/attributes are contemplated to achieve a stated result such as śatru-nigraha (subduing opposition).