Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

ततश्च सुन्दरीं निंदां नन्दबुद्धिमिमाः क्रमात् । शिरोभालहृदाधारेष्वेता बीजत्रयाधिकाः ॥ १२५ ॥

Transliteration

tataśca sundarīṃ niṃdāṃ nandabuddhimimāḥ kramāt | śirobhālahṛdādhāreṣvetā bījatrayādhikāḥ || 125 ||

Translation

Puis, dans l’ordre, ces formes mantriques — Sundarī, Nindā et Nandabuddhi — doivent être placées aux supports de la tête, du front et du cœur ; et elles sont encore augmentées par une triade de syllabes-semences (bīja).

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरम्-अर्थ (ablatival adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• सुन्दरीम्: Sundarī (name)
• सुन्दरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• निन्दाम्: Nindā (name; ‘censure’)
• निन्दाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• नन्द-बुद्धिम्: Nandabuddhi (name)
• नन्द-बुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (तत्पुरुष: नन्दस्य बुद्धिः / नन्द-नाम्नी बुद्धिः) Accusative singular

• इमाः: these (feminine ones)
• इमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural pronoun

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाव (instrumental used adverbially): ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• शिरः-भाल-हृद्-आधारेषु: in the supports at head, forehead, and heart
• शिरः-भाल-हृद्-आधारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाल (प्रातिपदिक) + हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: शिरश्च भालं च हृच्च; तेषु आधारेषु) Locative plural

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural pronoun

• बीज-त्रय-अधिकाः: having three additional seeds / endowed with three seeds
• बीज-त्रय-अधिकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (तत्पुरुष: बीजानां त्रयम् अधिकं यासाम्) Nominative plural; predicate adjective

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It describes a structured inner placement (nyāsa) of specific mantra-forms at key bodily supports (head, forehead, heart), indicating disciplined internalization of mantra-power rather than mere recitation.

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

By prescribing mantra-placement and bīja augmentation, it frames devotion as a regulated sādhana where reverence is expressed through precise contemplative ritual, aligning mind and heart with the deity-focused mantra current.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, procedural aspect of mantra-śāstra used alongside Vedāṅga-oriented discipline—ordered application (kramāt), correct placement (ādhāra/nyāsa), and the use of bīja-syllables for intensifying a rite.