Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

अनुलोमां विलोमांतस्थितसाध्याह्वयान्वितम् । मन्त्रमुच्चार्य जुहुयान्मंत्री मधुरलोलितैः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

anulomāṃ vilomāṃtasthitasādhyāhvayānvitam | mantramuccārya juhuyānmaṃtrī madhuralolitaiḥ || 86 ||

Translation

Nachdem er das Mantra gesprochen hat — versehen mit den Anrufungen der Sādhyas, am Ende gesetzt, sowohl in direkter als auch in umgekehrter Reihenfolge — soll der kundige Ritualmeister die Opfergaben ins Feuer darbringen, begleitet von süßen, sanft erfreuenden Gaben.

Word by Word

• अनुलोमाम्: (the rite/mantra) in anuloma order
• अनुलोमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलोमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विलोम-अन्त-स्थित-साध्य-आह्वय-अन्वितम्: accompanied by the Sādhya-invocation placed at the reverse end
• विलोम-अन्त-स्थित-साध्य-आह्वय-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था (धातु), क्त) + साध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) + अनु उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘विलोम-अन्ते स्थितं साध्य-आह्वयेन अन्वितम्’ (end portion in reverse order, accompanied by invocation of Sādhyas)

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्चार्य: having uttered
• उच्चार्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — ‘उच्चार्य’ (having uttered)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (in fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्री: the mantra-knower/priest
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मधुर-लोलितैः: with sweetened (offerings)
• मधुर-लोलितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + लोलित (कृदन्त; √लुल्/√लोल् (धातु), क्त; ‘लोलित’ = ‘मिश्रित/संसिक्त/परिमर्दित’ अर्थे)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—‘मधुरैः लोलितैः’ (sweetened/treated with sweet substance)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sādhyas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-prayoga—correct sequencing (anuloma/viloma) and proper invocation—showing that precision in sacred speech and offering supports the intended ritual fruition.

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

Though primarily ritual-technical, it frames devotion as careful, reverent execution of worship through homa: sincere recitation, respectful invocation of divine beings, and pure offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga in yajña/homa: rules of recitation order (anuloma and viloma) and the use of āhvaya (invocatory naming) before making oblations.