Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

लोकपाला बहिः पूज्या वज्राद्यैरायुधैः सह । मंत्रेऽस्मिन्संधिते मन्त्री साधयेदिष्टमात्मनः ॥ १४५ ॥

Transliteration

lokapālā bahiḥ pūjyā vajrādyairāyudhaiḥ saha | maṃtre'sminsaṃdhite mantrī sādhayediṣṭamātmanaḥ || 145 ||

Translation

Les Lokapālas, gardiens des mondes, doivent être adorés à l’extérieur, avec leurs armes telles que le vajra et autres. Quand ce mantra est correctement assemblé et ordonné, le pratiquant du mantra doit accomplir pour lui-même le but désiré.

Word by Word

• लोकपालाः: world-guardians (Lokapālas)
• लोकपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लोकस्य पालाः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: outside)

• पूज्याः: to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् (धातु))
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन

• वज्र-आद्यैः: such as the vajra, etc.
• वज्र-आद्यैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आदि-तत्पुरुष: 'beginning with vajra'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd), बहुवचन; (qualifies आयुधैः)

• आयुधैः: with weapons
• आयुधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-निपात (particle: together with)

• मन्त्रे: in the mantra
• मन्त्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन

• संधिते: when (it is) properly joined/arranged
• संधिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संधित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धा (धातु) with सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; (locative absolute sense with मन्त्रे अस्मिन्)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• साधयेत्: should accomplish
• साधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• इष्टम्: the desired (object/result)
• इष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इष् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context, traditionally within dialogue transmission)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lokapalas
• Vajra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual completeness: honoring the directional guardians (Lokapālas) in their proper place and correctly forming/combining the mantra (sandhita) so the sādhaka’s intention becomes effective and protected.

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

Bhakti here appears as disciplined reverence expressed through pūjā—worship performed with order, respect for divine protectors, and careful mantra practice, showing devotion through correct sacred procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to mantra-technicality—especially correct “sandhi/saṃdhāna” (joining/arranging) of mantra sounds and ritual placement—linking to Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammatical correctness) for efficacy in rites.