Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

महिषीक्षीरधूपं च दद्याच्छत्रुविपत्करम् । एवं संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तं अवतारचतुष्टयम् ॥ १६८ ॥

Transliteration

mahiṣīkṣīradhūpaṃ ca dadyācchatruvipatkaram | evaṃ saṃkṣepataḥ proktaṃ avatāracatuṣṭayam || 168 ||

Translation

Und man bringe Räucherwerk dar, bereitet mit Büffelmilch; man sagt, es bringe den Feinden Verderben. So ist, kurz gefasst, das Vierer‑Gefüge (der Riten) im Zusammenhang mit den göttlichen Herabkünften (Avatāras) dargelegt.

Word by Word

• महिषीक्षीरधूपम्: fumigation/incense of buffalo-milk
• महिषीक्षीरधूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषी-क्षीर-धूप (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (महिष्याः क्षीरस्य धूपः / महिषीक्षीर-धूपः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शत्रुविपत्करम्: bringing misfortune to the enemy
• शत्रुविपत्करम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु-विपत्-कर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रोः विपत्करः) — ‘causing calamity to the enemy’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus)

• संक्षेपतः: briefly
• संक्षेपतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) — ‘briefly/in summary’

• प्रोक्तम्: has been stated
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः — ‘has been said’

• अवतारचतुष्टयम्: the set of four incarnations
• अवतारचतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार-चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः द्विगु (चतुष्टयम् = fourfold set)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It presents a specific dhūpa (incense) offering as a ritual means (upāya) for protection and removal of hostile forces, and it closes by noting that a fourfold avatāra-related set of rites has been summarized.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined offering—devotion taking the form of correctly performed worship (upacāra) and ritual action aligned with scriptural instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical ritual procedure—selection of offering substance (milk-based dhūpa) and its stated phala (result)—reflecting technical application of Vedic rite-logic rather than narrative theology.