Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

क्षीराक्तैरमृताखंडैर्होमः सर्वापमृत्युजित् । दूर्वाभघिरायुषे होमः क्षीराक्ताभिर्दिनत्रयम् ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

kṣīrāktairamṛtākhaṃḍairhomaḥ sarvāpamṛtyujit | dūrvābhaghirāyuṣe homaḥ kṣīrāktābhirdinatrayam || 83 ||

Translation

A homa with pieces of amṛta anointed with milk conquers every form of untimely death. For longevity, one should perform homa with dūrvā grass anointed with milk for three consecutive days.

Word by Word

• क्षीर-आक्तैः: smeared with milk
• क्षीर-आक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्त (कृदन्त; √अञ्ज् (धातु), क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — ‘क्षीरेण आक्त’

• अमृत-आखण्डैः: with pieces of amṛta
• अमृत-आखण्डैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अमृतस्य आखण्डाः’ (pieces of amṛta)

• होमः: the fire-offering (homa)
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-अपमृत्यु-जित्: conquering all untimely deaths
• सर्व-अपमृत्यु-जित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अपमृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (कृदन्त; √जि (धातु), क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वान् अपमृत्यून् जयति’ इति—जित् (agent-noun)

• दूर्वा: dūrvā grass
• दूर्वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)

• अभघिः: (a plant/ingredient named) abhaghi
• अभघिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभघि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन); पाठभेद/दुर्लभशब्द

• आयुषे: for long life
• आयुषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• होमः: the homa
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षीर-आक्ताभिः: with (things) smeared with milk
• क्षीर-आक्ताभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्त (कृदन्त; √अञ्ज् (धातु), क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘क्षीरेण आक्ताः’ (fem. items understood)

• दिन-त्रयम्: for three days
• दिन-त्रयम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास—‘त्रीणि दिनानि’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Narada

FAQs

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

It presents homa as a dharmic, Vedic means to avert apamṛtyu (untimely death) and to stabilize āyus (lifespan), emphasizing purity and life-sustaining substances like milk and dūrvā.

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

While primarily ritual-technical, the verse supports bhakti indirectly by prescribing sacred offerings performed with faith and reverence—actions traditionally dedicated to the divine through the fire as a consecrated medium.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Śrauta-Smārta ritual practice is highlighted: specific homa materials (milk-anointed oblations and dūrvā), the intended phala (longevity, apamṛtyu-śānti), and the time-bound procedure (three days).