Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

शिरोवदनहृद्गुह्यपादेषु विधिना न्यसेत् । हृल्लेखां गगनां रक्तां भूयो मन्त्री करालिकाम् ॥ ११० ॥

Transliteration

śirovadanahṛdguhyapādeṣu vidhinā nyaset | hṛllekhāṃ gaganāṃ raktāṃ bhūyo mantrī karālikām || 110 ||

Translation

According to the prescribed procedure, one should perform nyāsa upon the head, face, heart, secret region, and feet. Then the mantra-practitioner should again mentally place the heart-inscription (hṛllekhā)—the red syllable ‘ga’ (gaganā)—and thereafter place ‘karālikā’ as well.

Word by Word

• शिरस्-वदन-हृत्-गुह्य-पादेषु: in the head, face, heart, secret part, and feet
• शिरस्-वदन-हृत्-गुह्य-पादेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक) + हृत्/हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (शिरश्च वदनं च हृच्च गुह्यं च पादाश्च)

• विधिना: according to the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु; न्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हृत्-लेखाम्: the ‘Hṛllekhā’ (name of a mantra/śakti)
• हृत्-लेखाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत्/हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + लेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (हृदि लेखा)

• गगनाम्: ‘Gaganā’
• गगनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगना (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रक्ताम्: ‘Raktā’
• रक्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्ता (प्रातिपदिक; नाम/विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (पुनः/अधिकम्)

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

• करालिकाम्: ‘Karālikā’
• करालिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करालिका (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure in a technical/vidhi section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—ritualized placement of mantra-power on specific body-points—so the practitioner internalizes the deity/mantra, making the body a sanctified support for worship and meditation.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by training concentrated remembrance and reverent embodiment of the mantra; devotion becomes disciplined, continuous, and inwardly established through prescribed placements.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (vidhi) and mantra-application techniques—especially nyāsa and color/seed-syllable visualization—typical of technical instruction found in the Third Pada’s applied sacred sciences.