Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

अनुलोमां विलोमांतस्थितसाध्याह्वयान्वितम् । मन्त्रमुच्चार्य जुहुयान्मंत्री मधुरलोलितैः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

anulomāṃ vilomāṃtasthitasādhyāhvayānvitam | mantramuccārya juhuyānmaṃtrī madhuralolitaiḥ || 86 ||

Translation

Having recited the mantra—endowed with the invocations of the Sādhyas placed at the end, in both the direct and the reverse order—the ritual expert should offer oblations into the fire, accompanied by sweet, gently pleasing offerings.

Word by Word

• अनुलोमाम्: (the rite/mantra) in anuloma order
• अनुलोमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलोमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विलोम-अन्त-स्थित-साध्य-आह्वय-अन्वितम्: accompanied by the Sādhya-invocation placed at the reverse end
• विलोम-अन्त-स्थित-साध्य-आह्वय-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था (धातु), क्त) + साध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) + अनु उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘विलोम-अन्ते स्थितं साध्य-आह्वयेन अन्वितम्’ (end portion in reverse order, accompanied by invocation of Sādhyas)

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्चार्य: having uttered
• उच्चार्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — ‘उच्चार्य’ (having uttered)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (in fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• मधुर-लोलितैः: with sweetened (offerings)
• मधुर-लोलितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + लोलित (कृदन्त; √लुल्/√लोल् (धातु), क्त; ‘लोलित’ = ‘मिश्रित/संसिक्त/परिमर्दित’ अर्थे)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—‘मधुरैः लोलितैः’ (sweetened/treated with sweet substance)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sādhyas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-prayoga—correct sequencing (anuloma/viloma) and proper invocation—showing that precision in sacred speech and offering supports the intended ritual fruition.

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

Though primarily ritual-technical, it frames devotion as careful, reverent execution of worship through homa: sincere recitation, respectful invocation of divine beings, and pure offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga in yajña/homa: rules of recitation order (anuloma and viloma) and the use of āhvaya (invocatory naming) before making oblations.