Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

अष्टादशार्णो मंत्रोऽयं दुर्गाधिष्ठातृदैवतः । नारदोऽस्य मुनिश्छंदो गायत्री देवता पुनः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭādaśārṇo maṃtro'yaṃ durgādhiṣṭhātṛdaivataḥ | nārado'sya muniśchaṃdo gāyatrī devatā punaḥ || 7 ||

Translation

This is an eighteen-syllabled mantra, presided over by Durgā as its governing deity. For it, Nārada is the seer (ṛṣi), the meter is Gāyatrī, and the invoked deity is again declared to be Gāyatrī.

Word by Word

• अष्टादशार्णः: eighteen-syllabled
• अष्टादशार्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (अष्टादश अर्णानि यस्य)

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण; demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दुर्गाधिष्ठातृदैवतः: whose presiding deity is Durgā
• दुर्गाधिष्ठातृदैवतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गा + अधिष्ठातृ + दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दुर्गायाः अधिष्ठातृ-दैवतं यस्य)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this (mantra)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिः: sage (seer)
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छन्दः: metre
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवता: deity
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति/क्रम-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/mantra-śāstra context within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Durga
• Narada
• Gayatri

FAQs

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

It gives the essential mantra-anukramaṇī details—syllable-count, presiding deity, seer (ṛṣi), and meter (chandas)—which are considered necessary for precise and effective mantra-japa and ritual application.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined worship: Bhakti here is practiced through correctly oriented mantra-recitation, acknowledging the mantra’s deity (Durga) and its Vedic parameters (ṛṣi and chandas).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (Vedic meter) and mantra-vidhi are highlighted—specifically, how a mantra is authenticated and applied by stating its ṛṣi (Narada), chandas (Gāyatrī), and devatā (Durga/Gāyatrī) in a technical format.