Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

अवतारांतरं देव्या वच्मि ते मुनिसत्तम । ज्ञानामृतारुणा श्वेताक्रोधिनींदुसमन्विता ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

avatārāṃtaraṃ devyā vacmi te munisattama | jñānāmṛtāruṇā śvetākrodhinīṃdusamanvitā || 41 ||

Translation

O best of sages, I shall tell you of another manifestation of the Goddess: she is dawn-red with the nectar of knowledge, radiant and white, free from anger, and endowed with moon-like serenity.

Word by Word

• अवतार-अन्तरम्: another incarnation
• अवतार-अन्तरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अवतारस्य अन्तरम् = another incarnation)

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• वच्मि: I speak/tell
• वच्मि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (4th/Dative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (श्रेष्ठो मुनिः)

• ज्ञान-अमृत-अरुणा: reddish like the nectar of knowledge
• ज्ञान-अमृत-अरुणा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानामृतवत् अरुणा = reddish like nectar of knowledge)

• श्वेता: white
• श्वेता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• अक्रोधिनी: not wrathful, calm
• अक्रोधिनी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + क्रोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; नञ्-समासान्त विशेषणम् (not angry)

• इन्दु-समन्विता: endowed with the moon
• इन्दु-समन्विता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (इन्दुना समन्विता = endowed with the moon)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)

FAQs

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

It presents sacred knowledge (jñāna) as a divine, purifying power: calm like the moon, free from anger, and luminous—implying that true learning in the Vedic tradition transforms character as well as intellect.

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

By describing the Goddess as pure, serene, and unwrathful, it implies that devotion should mature into inner purity and emotional steadiness—qualities that make worship and mantra-practice fruitful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the Vedanga spirit of disciplined learning: knowledge as “amṛta” (life-giving nectar) and akrodha (control of anger) as a practical prerequisite for studying and applying sacred sciences.