Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

भुक्त्यै मुक्त्यै सितां ध्यायेदुच्चाटे नीलरोचिषम् । रक्तां वश्ये मृतौ धूम्रां स्तंभने कनकप्रभाम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

bhuktyai muktyai sitāṃ dhyāyeduccāṭe nīlarociṣam | raktāṃ vaśye mṛtau dhūmrāṃ staṃbhane kanakaprabhām || 30 ||

Translation

For worldly enjoyment and for liberation, one should meditate on the deity in a white form. For uccāṭa (expulsion), contemplate a blue-radiant form; for vaśya (subjugation), a red form; in matters of mṛtyu (death), a smoke-hued form; and for stambhana (immobilization), a golden-lustrous form.

Word by Word

• भुक्त्यै: for enjoyment/worldly prosperity
• भुक्त्यै: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन — Feminine, Dative, Singular

• मुक्त्यै: for liberation
• मुक्त्यै: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन — Feminine, Dative, Singular

• सिताम्: white (form)
• सिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate (on)
• ध्यायेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Optative, 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• उच्चाटे: in exorcism/expulsion (uccāṭa)
• उच्चाटे: विषय-अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्चाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नील-रोचिषम्: blue-lustrous (form)
• नील-रोचिषम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + रोचिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नीला रोचिः यस्याः) — Feminine, Accusative, Singular; descriptive compound

• रक्ताम्: red (form)
• रक्ताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वश्ये: in subjugation (vaśya)
• वश्ये: विषय-अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मृतौ: in death (rite/aim)
• मृतौ: विषय-अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• धूम्राम्: smoky/grey (form)
• धूम्राम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• स्तंभने: in immobilization (stambhana)
• स्तंभने: विषय-अधिकरण (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तंभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कनक-प्रभाम्: golden-radiant (form)
• कनक-प्रभाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कनकस्य प्रभा) — Feminine, Accusative, Singular; genitive tatpurusha

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual-vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that dhyāna (meditative visualization) is applied with precise attributes—especially color and radiance—according to the intended karma (aim), distinguishing between higher goals like mukti and pragmatic ritual aims.

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

While framed as a technical instruction, it underscores focused contemplation on a chosen divine form (dhyāna) as a disciplined practice; the verse contrasts worldly aims (bhukti) with the highest aim (mukti), reminding the practitioner to orient devotion toward liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-vidhi—how mantra and dhyāna are matched to specific rites (uccāṭa, vaśya, stambhana)—a technical strand aligned with auxiliary disciplines used in correct performance of Vedic/Paurāṇic rituals.