Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

दीक्षां प्राप्य जपेन्मंत्रं तत्त्वलक्षं जितेंद्रियः । पुष्पैर्भानुसहस्राणि जुहुयाद्बह्मवृक्षजैः ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

dīkṣāṃ prāpya japenmaṃtraṃ tattvalakṣaṃ jiteṃdriyaḥ | puṣpairbhānusahasrāṇi juhuyādbahmavṛkṣajaiḥ || 62 ||

Translation

Après avoir reçu la dīkṣā, le pratiquant maître de ses sens doit réciter en japa le mantra qui révèle le tattva véritable. Puis, avec des fleurs nées de l’arbre de brahma, qu’il offre dans le feu mille oblations, chacune éclatante comme le Soleil.

Word by Word

• दीक्षाम्: initiation (dīkṣā)
• दीक्षाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having obtained’

• जपेत्: should recite (mutter)
• जपेत्: विधेय (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्त्वलक्षम्: having the mark/character of truth (tattva)
• तत्त्वलक्षम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to ‘मन्त्रम्’; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘तत्त्वस्य लक्षम्’

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled (one who has conquered the senses)
• जितेन्द्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येन सः’ (one whose senses are conquered)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भानु-सहस्राणि: thousands (sun-like / of the Sun)
• भानु-सहस्राणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भानोः सहस्राणि’ (thousands of the Sun = sun-like thousands)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: विधेय (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्म-वृक्ष-जैः: born from the brahma-tree (i.e., from a sacred tree)
• ब्रह्म-वृक्ष-जैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + वृक्ष + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter, context ‘puṣpaiḥ’), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मवृक्षात् जातैः’ (born from the brahma-tree)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (tattva)
• Agni (homa)

FAQs

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

It links initiation (dīkṣā) with inner discipline (sense-control) and outer ritual (homa), presenting japa and oblations as a unified sādhana aimed at realizing tattva (ultimate truth).

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

By prescribing mantra-japa after dīkṣā and luminous offerings into fire, it frames devotion as steady remembrance and worship expressed through sanctified speech (mantra) and consecrated action (homa), grounded in self-restraint.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes kalpa (ritual procedure): the sequence of dīkṣā → japa → homa, including the specified count of oblations and the prescribed offering substance (flowers from a ritually approved sacred tree).