Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मध्ययोन्यंतराले पूजयेत्कल्पयेत्ततः । पंचभिः प्रणवैर्मूर्तिं तस्यामावाह्य देवताम् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

prāṅmadhyayonyaṃtarāle pūjayetkalpayettataḥ | paṃcabhiḥ praṇavairmūrtiṃ tasyāmāvāhya devatām || 68 ||

Translation

Ensuite, qu’on adore dans l’espace entre la division de l’Est et celle du centre, puis qu’on ordonne le rite. Par le Oṁ quintuple (praṇava), qu’on façonne l’image de la Divinité et qu’on l’y invoque (āvāhana).

Word by Word

• प्राक्: in front/eastward
• प्राक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिक्/कालवाचक-उपपद (पूर्वदिशि/पूर्वतः)

• मध्य: in the middle
• मध्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (अन्तराले इत्यर्थे)

• योनि-अन्तराले: in the space between the yoni (diagram parts)
• योनि-अन्तराले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (योनेः अन्तरालम्)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/construct
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक (thereafter)

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• प्रणवैः: with (the) praṇavas (Oṃ-syllables)
• प्रणवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• मूर्तिम्: the form/image
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तस्याम्: in that (form)
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having invoked’

• देवताम्: the deity
• देवताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Devatā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship is not merely external: the deity is consciously invoked (āvāhana) into a prepared form, aligning space, form (mūrti), and mantra (praṇava) into a focused act of devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive upāsanā—carefully preparing the worship-space and invoking the divine presence with praṇava-mantras, treating the deity as truly present and worthy of honor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual technicalities are highlighted—directional/space arrangement and mantra-application (praṇava usage) for āvāhana and forming the mūrti—reflecting applied śikṣā/mantra-prayoga and kalpa-style procedure.