Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

मल्लिकाकुसुमैर्हुत्वा राजपुत्रान्वशं नयेत् । कोरंटकुसुमैर्वैंश्यान्वृषलान्पाटलोद्भवैः ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

mallikākusumairhutvā rājaputrānvaśaṃ nayet | koraṃṭakusumairvaiṃśyānvṛṣalānpāṭalodbhavaiḥ || 85 ||

Translation

Durch das Darbringen von Mallikā-Blüten (Jasmin) ins Feuer kann man Prinzen beeinflussen; mit Koraṇṭa-Blüten die Vaiśyas; und mit Blüten des Pāṭalā-Baumes die Vṛṣalas (aus der Śūdra-Klasse).

Word by Word

• मल्लिका-कुसुमैः: with jasmine flowers
• मल्लिका-कुसुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्लिका (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘मल्लिकायाः कुसुमानि’

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — ‘हवित्वा/आहुय’

• राज-पुत्रान्: princes
• राज-पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘राज्ञः पुत्राः’

• वशम्: control/subjugation
• वशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नयेत्: should lead/bring
• नयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कोरंट-कुसुमैः: with koraṇṭa flowers
• कोरंट-कुसुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोरंट (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कोरंटस्य कुसुमानि’

• वैश्यान्: vaiśyas
• वैश्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वृषलान्: śūdras/low-born men
• वृषलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पाटल-उद्भवैः: with (flowers) arising from pāṭala
• पाटल-उद्भवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाटल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पाटलात् उद्भव’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

The verse presents a technical, karma-kāṇḍa style mapping of specific ritual materials (flowers used in homa) to intended worldly outcomes, illustrating the Purana’s Vedāṅga-oriented emphasis on precise ritual correspondences.

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

This verse is not primarily bhakti-centered; it focuses on ritual means (upāyas) for social influence. In the Narada Purana’s broader teaching, such rites are typically subordinate to higher aims like dharma and devotion, but here the instruction remains practical and technical.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—selection of homa/dravya (offerings) for specific results—reflecting procedural knowledge aligned with Kalpa (ritual practice) and related technical traditions.