Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

दीक्षां प्राप्य जपेन्मंत्रं तत्त्वलक्षं जितेंद्रियः । पुष्पैर्भानुसहस्राणि जुहुयाद्बह्मवृक्षजैः ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

dīkṣāṃ prāpya japenmaṃtraṃ tattvalakṣaṃ jiteṃdriyaḥ | puṣpairbhānusahasrāṇi juhuyādbahmavṛkṣajaiḥ || 62 ||

Translation

Nachdem er die Dīkṣā empfangen hat, soll der sinnenbeherrschte Übende das Mantra in Japa rezitieren, das das wahre Tattva offenbart. Danach soll er mit Blüten, die vom Brahma-Baum stammen, ins Feuer tausend Opfergaben darbringen, jede strahlend wie die Sonne.

Word by Word

• दीक्षाम्: initiation (dīkṣā)
• दीक्षाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having obtained’

• जपेत्: should recite (mutter)
• जपेत्: विधेय (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्त्वलक्षम्: having the mark/character of truth (tattva)
• तत्त्वलक्षम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to ‘मन्त्रम्’; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘तत्त्वस्य लक्षम्’

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled (one who has conquered the senses)
• जितेन्द्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येन सः’ (one whose senses are conquered)

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

• भानु-सहस्राणि: thousands (sun-like / of the Sun)
• भानु-सहस्राणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भानोः सहस्राणि’ (thousands of the Sun = sun-like thousands)

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

• ब्रह्म-वृक्ष-जैः: born from the brahma-tree (i.e., from a sacred tree)
• ब्रह्म-वृक्ष-जैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + वृक्ष + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter, context ‘puṣpaiḥ’), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मवृक्षात् जातैः’ (born from the brahma-tree)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (tattva)
• Agni (homa)

FAQs

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

It links initiation (dīkṣā) with inner discipline (sense-control) and outer ritual (homa), presenting japa and oblations as a unified sādhana aimed at realizing tattva (ultimate truth).

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

By prescribing mantra-japa after dīkṣā and luminous offerings into fire, it frames devotion as steady remembrance and worship expressed through sanctified speech (mantra) and consecrated action (homa), grounded in self-restraint.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes kalpa (ritual procedure): the sequence of dīkṣā → japa → homa, including the specified count of oblations and the prescribed offering substance (flowers from a ritually approved sacred tree).