Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 122

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

निरोधिकायामर्द्धेंदुनादे नादांतयोः पुनः । उन्नतांसेषु वक्त्रे च ध्रुवमण्डलके शिवे ॥ १२२ ॥

Transliteration

nirodhikāyāmarddheṃdunāde nādāṃtayoḥ punaḥ | unnatāṃseṣu vaktre ca dhruvamaṇḍalake śive || 122 ||

Translation

In the nirodhikā (the restraining inner channel), in the sound like a half-moon, and again at the end-points of the nāda; in the raised shoulders, in the mouth, and in the auspicious, steady sphere (dhruva-maṇḍala)—there one should fix awareness.

Word by Word

• निरोधिकायाम्: in/at Nirodhikā
• निरोधिकायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरोधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• अर्द्धेन्दु-नादे: in the ‘half-moon’ sound
• अर्द्धेन्दु-नादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्धेन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अर्द्धेन्दोः नादः) Locative singular

• नाद-अन्तयोः: of the sound and the end
• नाद-अन्तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; (द्वन्द्व: नादश्च अन्तश्च) Genitive dual

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उन्नत-अंसेषु: on the raised shoulders
• उन्नत-अंसेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्नत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (कर्मधारय: उन्नताः अंसाः येषु) Locative plural

• वक्त्रे: in the mouth/face
• वक्त्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• ध्रुव-मण्डलके: in the fixed circle/orb
• ध्रुव-मण्डलके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: ध्रुवं मण्डलकं) Locative singular

• शिवे: in Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (addressing/locating in Śiva)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps specific inner loci where attention is to be stabilized so that nāda (subtle sound) becomes a support for nirodha (restraint), leading the mind toward steadiness and liberation-oriented absorption.

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

While primarily yogic/technical, it supports bhakti indirectly by training one-pointedness; a steadied mind can hold divine remembrance without distraction, making devotion continuous and deeper.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This belongs to the technical-yogic instruction stream associated with Vedāṅga-style disciplines (especially Śikṣā and subtle phonetics of sound), using nāda as a practical method of concentration.