Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

त्रिमध्वक्तैः प्रसूनैर्वा करवीरसमुद्भवैः । पद्मं वसुदलोपेतं नवयोन्यष्टकर्णिकम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

trimadhvaktaiḥ prasūnairvā karavīrasamudbhavaiḥ | padmaṃ vasudalopetaṃ navayonyaṣṭakarṇikam || 63 ||

Translation

Ou bien, avec des fleurs de karavīra (laurier-rose) imprégnées de la triple douceur du miel, qu’on façonne un lotus : pourvu de huit pétales et dont le cœur est marqué de neuf « yoni » (divisions).

Word by Word

• त्रि-मधु-अक्तैः: smeared with three kinds of honey
• त्रि-मधु-अक्तैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + मधु + अक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter, agreeing with ‘प्रसूनैः’), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रिभिः मधुभिः अक्तैः’ (smeared with three honeys)

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

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• करवीर-समुद्भवैः: arisen from oleander (karavīra)
• करवीर-समुद्भवैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करवीर + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter, agreeing with ‘प्रसूनैः’), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: ‘करवीरात् समुद्भवैः’ (arisen from oleander)

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वसु-दल-उपेतम्: endowed with eight petals
• वसु-दल-उपेतम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसु + दल + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to ‘पद्मम्’; समासः तत्पुरुष: ‘वसु-दलैः उपेतम्’ (endowed with eight petals; ‘वसु’ = eight)

• नव-योनि-अष्ट-कर्णिकम्: having nine yonis and eight ‘karṇikā’ parts
• नव-योनि-अष्ट-कर्णिकम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + योनि + अष्ट + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to ‘पद्मम्’; समासः तत्पुरुष (संख्यापूर्वपद-युक्त): ‘नवयोनिः’ (nine wombs/origins) + ‘अष्टकर्णिकम्’ (eight-pericarped/with eight filaments)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual instruction sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise lotus-form used in worship, indicating that devotion is supported by disciplined, correctly structured ritual forms (a technical aid to focused upāsanā).

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful preparation of worship-materials and sacred forms; the ordered lotus with defined petals/divisions becomes a support for steady remembrance and offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural/technical ritual knowledge—how to construct a specific lotus pattern (a kind of ritual design/mandala specification), reflecting the Vedāṅga-style emphasis on exactness in rites.