Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

बीजत्रयादिकान्मंत्री मन्मथं मकरध्वजम् । मदनं पुष्पधन्वानं पंचमं कुसुमायुधम् ॥ ११५ ॥

Transliteration

bījatrayādikānmaṃtrī manmathaṃ makaradhvajam | madanaṃ puṣpadhanvānaṃ paṃcamaṃ kusumāyudham || 115 ||

Translation

Le connaisseur du mantra (mantrī), en commençant par les trois syllabes-semences, invoque Kāma : Manmatha, Makaradhvaja, Madana, Puṣpadhanvan et, en cinquième, Kusumāyudha.

Word by Word

• बीजत्रयादिकान्: (those) beginning with the three seed(-syllables) etc.
• बीजत्रयादिकान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज + त्रय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्मथं… इत्यादीन्—अध्याहृत) ; समासः: बीजानां त्रयम् आदिः येषां (अर्थतः ‘three seed-syllables etc.’)

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

• मन्मथम्: Manmatha
• मन्मथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्मथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मकरध्वजम्: Makaradhvaja (he whose banner is a makara)
• मकरध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकर + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: मकरः ध्वजः यस्य (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रसिद्ध-नाम; रूपतः तत्पुरुषवत्)

• मदनम्: Madana
• मदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुष्पधन्वानम्: Puṣpadhanvan (he whose bow is of flowers)
• पुष्पधन्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: पुष्पं धनुः यस्य

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कुसुमायुधम्)

• कुसुमायुधम्: Kusumāyudha (he whose weapons are flowers)
• कुसुमायुधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: कुसुमानि आयुधानि यस्य

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional listing of mantra-epithets)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kama (Manmatha)
• Makaradhvaja
• Madana
• Puspadhanvan
• Kusumayudha

FAQs

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

It highlights a technical mantra-practice principle: invoking a deity through recognized epithets, showing how precise divine names function as tools (upāyas) within ritual and mantra-vidhi.

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

By presenting multiple sacred names of Kāma, it reflects the bhakti method of nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance through names), where devotion is strengthened through focused recitation and contemplation of divine attributes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-nirukti/naamavidhi style usage—how epithets (nāmas) are selected and sequenced in mantra application, a technical feature aligned with Vedanga-oriented instruction in Book 1.3.