Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

वाक्सिद्धिं मालतीपुष्पैश्चंपकैर्हवनात्सुखम् । घृताक्तं छागमांसं यो जुहुयात्प्रत्यहं शतम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vāksiddhiṃ mālatīpuṣpaiścaṃpakairhavanātsukham | ghṛtāktaṃ chāgamāṃsaṃ yo juhuyātpratyahaṃ śatam || 22 ||

Translation

Wer im heiligen Feuer (Homa) mit Mālatī- und Campaka-Blüten Opfergaben darbringt, erlangt Vollkommenheit der Rede; und wer Tag für Tag hundert Opfergaben von mit Ghee bestrichenem Ziegenfleisch darbringt, gewinnt Trost, Wohlergehen und Behagen.

Word by Word

• वाक्-सिद्धिम्: success/power of speech
• वाक्-सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मालती-पुष्पैः: with mālatī flowers
• मालती-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालती (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• चंपकैः: with campaka (flowers)
• चंपकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चंपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हवनात्: from/through oblation (homa)
• हवनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• घृत-आक्तम्: smeared with ghee
• घृत-आक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्त (कृदन्त; √अञ्ज्/अञ्ज् लेपने)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle)

• छाग-मांसम्: goat meat
• छाग-मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• प्रति-अहम्: every day
• प्रति-अहम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• शतम्: a hundred (times/offerings)
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); संख्यावाचक (numeral)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual results within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

The verse presents a karma-kāṇḍa style mapping of specific homa substances to specific results—especially vāk-siddhi (efficacy and refinement of speech), indicating that disciplined ritual action is treated as a means to cultivate inner and outer capability.

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

Direct bhakti is not explicitly taught here; instead, the verse reflects the technical-ritual layer often used as a supportive discipline. In the Narada Purana framework, such regulated rites can prepare the practitioner through purity, focus, and steadiness, which later supports devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual praxis aligned with Vedanga concerns (especially kalpa/ritual procedure): selection of dravya (offerings), the act of havana/homa, fixed daily count (śata), and the doctrine of phala (specific results from specific rites).