Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

तासु दुर्गाकथात्यंतं पुण्यदा चाष्टमेंऽतरे । तत्पश्चात्प्रणवोत्पत्तिस्त्रयीतेजः समुद्भवा ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tāsu durgākathātyaṃtaṃ puṇyadā cāṣṭameṃ'tare | tatpaścātpraṇavotpattistrayītejaḥ samudbhavā || 9 ||

Translation

Among those topics, in the eighth section is found the most sacred account of Durgā, bestowing great merit. After that is described the origin of the Praṇava (Oṁ), born from the radiance of the Vedic triad.

Word by Word

• तासु: among those (accounts)
• तासु: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• दुर्गा-कथा-अत्यन्तम्: especially/exceedingly (the story of Durgā)
• दुर्गा-कथा-अत्यन्तम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दुर्गा + कथा + अत्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbially: extremely, with respect to Durgā-story)

• पुण्यदा: bestowing merit
• पुण्यदा: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यद (प्रातिपदिक; द = √दा 'giving')
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पुण्यं ददाति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण (to कथा understood)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अष्टमे: in the eighth
• अष्टमे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक-सम्भव (here with अन्तरे: 'in the eighth')

• अन्तरे: section/interval
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तत्: thereafter/then
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Discourse reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (correlative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: afterwards)

• प्रणव-उत्पत्तिः: the origin of the Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-उत्पत्तिः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• त्रयी-तेजः: the radiance of the three Vedas
• त्रयी-तेजः: हेतु/सम्बन्ध (Source/qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• समुद्भवा: arisen from
• समुद्भवा: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक; √भू धातु, क्त/तव्य? here adjectival 'arisen', with सम्+उद्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण (to उत्पत्तिः)

Speaker

Narada (enumerating contents to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Durgā
• Praṇava (Oṃ)
• Trayī (Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda)

FAQs

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

It frames two core sanctifying themes: the merit-giving narration of Durgā and the metaphysical primacy of Oṃ, presented as arising from the luminous essence of the three Vedas.

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

By highlighting Durgā-kathā as puṇyadā (merit-bestowing), it implies that faithful hearing/recitation of divine narratives is a devotional practice that purifies and supports dharma and spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Vedic doctrine centered on the Trayī (Ṛg–Yajus–Sāman) and the Praṇava (Oṃ), a foundational element for mantra-prayoga and śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) in Vedic practice.