Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

सूर्यहस्तां निरुक्षांकधृतहस्तांबरान्विताम् । प्रवृद्धलोमां तु भृशं कुटिलाकुटिलेक्षणाम् ॥ १५९ ॥

Transliteration

sūryahastāṃ nirukṣāṃkadhṛtahastāṃbarānvitām | pravṛddhalomāṃ tu bhṛśaṃ kuṭilākuṭilekṣaṇām || 159 ||

Translation

Ihre Hände leuchteten wie die Sonne; sie war in Gewänder gehüllt und hielt in der Hand ein Zeichen mit dem Emblem „Nirukta“. Überaus behaart war sie, und ihr Blick war schief und verstörend.

Word by Word

• sūrya-hastām: having sun-like hands
• sūrya-hastām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (sūryaḥ iva hastaḥ / sūrya-sadṛśa-hastā)

• nirukṣām: harsh/rough (unkempt)
• nirukṣām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirukṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• aṃka-dhṛta-hasta-aṃbara-anvitām: wearing a cloth held in the hand on the lap
• aṃka-dhṛta-hasta-aṃbara-anvitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṃka (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛta (कृदन्त; √dhṛ धातु) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃbara (प्रातिपदिक) + anvitā (कृदन्त; √i/anu-√i धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष-प्रधानः (aṃke dhṛta-hasta-aṃbarā—anvitā)

• pravṛddha-lomām: with overgrown body-hair
• pravṛddha-lomām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛddha (कृदन्त; √vṛdh धातु) + loma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (pravṛddhāni lomāni yasyāḥ)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• bhṛśam: excessively
• bhṛśam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• kuṭila-akuṭila-īkṣaṇām: with crooked and uncrooked (odd) eyes
• kuṭila-akuṭila-īkṣaṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṭila (प्रातिपदिक) + akuṭila (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (kuṭilāni ca akuṭilāni ca īkṣaṇāni yasyāḥ)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, describing a technical/personified figure in the Vedanga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Nirukta

FAQs

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

The verse uses vivid, almost iconographic description to portray a power or personification connected with Vedic learning—especially Nirukta—indicating that mastery of sacred meaning (artha) can appear formidable and awe-inspiring, not merely ornamental.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct understanding of Vedic words and meanings (through Nirukta), it supports disciplined scriptural comprehension, which in the Narada Purana is often presented as a foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti and correct ritual orientation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Nirukta (etymology/semantic explanation of Vedic terms) is highlighted—pointing to the Vedanga method of interpreting difficult Vedic words via signs, roots, and traditional semantic markers.