Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

पत्रस्था मातरः पूज्या ब्राह्याद्याः प्रोक्तलक्षणाः । तदग्रेष्वर्चयेद्विद्वानसितांगादिभैरवान् ॥ १४१ ॥

Transliteration

patrasthā mātaraḥ pūjyā brāhyādyāḥ proktalakṣaṇāḥ | tadagreṣvarcayedvidvānasitāṃgādibhairavān || 141 ||

Translation

Les Mères (Mātṛkā), à commencer par Brāhmī, doivent être vénérées comme placées sur les feuilles, selon les caractéristiques déjà exposées. Devant elles, le pratiquant savant doit adorer les Bhairava, à commencer par Asitāṅga.

Word by Word

• पत्र-स्थाः: situated on the petals
• पत्र-स्थाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत्र + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ('situated on the petals')

• मातरः: the Mothers (Mātṛs)
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पूज्याः: to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पूज् + य (कृत्; पूज्य)
• Form: कृतान्त—यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थ (gerundive: 'to be worshipped'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मी-आद्याः: beginning with Brāhmī
• ब्राह्मी-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ('beginning with Brāhmī')

• प्रोक्त-लक्षणाः: having the described characteristics
• प्रोक्त-लक्षणाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्त (√वच् क्त-प्रत्यय; कृतान्त-विशेषण) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ('having the characteristics that have been stated')

• तत्-अग्रेषु: on their tips/front parts
• तत्-अग्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ('on their tips/fronts')

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्वान्: the learned man
• विद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; क्तवत्-भावे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेष्यः—'ज्ञानी' (learned person)

• असित-अङ्ग-आदि-भैरवान्: the Bhairavas beginning with Asitāṅga
• असित-अङ्ग-आदि-भैरवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असित + अङ्ग + आदि + भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ('Bhairavas beginning with Asitāṅga')

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Mātṛkās
• Brāhmī
• Bhairavas
• Asitāṅga

FAQs

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

It establishes a precise ritual order: first honoring the Mātṛkās (divine maternal powers) and then venerating the Bhairavas (protective fierce forms), indicating that spiritual power and protection are invoked through disciplined sequence and proper placement in worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, rule-guided pūjā—devotion that becomes effective through correct upacāra (ritual service), honoring divine energies (Mātṛkās) and guardians (Bhairavas) with knowledge and humility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through details of arrangement (patrasthā—placement on leaves) and sequencing (tadagreṣu—worship in front/after), emphasizing competence (vidvān) in correct liturgical method.