Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras
सनत्कुमार उवाच । अवतारत्रयं लक्ष्म्याः कथित ते द्विजोत्तम । दुर्गायाश्चाभिधास्यामि सर्वलोकोपकारकान् ॥ १ ॥
sanatkumāra uvāca | avatāratrayaṃ lakṣmyāḥ kathita te dvijottama | durgāyāścābhidhāsyāmi sarvalokopakārakān || 1 ||
Sanatkumāra bersabda: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dvija, tiga avatāra Lakṣmī telah kukisahkan kepadamu. Kini akan kuuraikan pula avatāra Durgā yang membawa kebajikan bagi seluruh loka.”
Sanatkumara
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It marks a transition from describing Lakṣmī’s manifestations to Durgā’s, presenting the Goddess’s avatāras as divinely purposeful forms meant for the welfare (upakāra) of all beings and worlds.
By framing the Goddess’s incarnations as compassionate interventions for universal good, the verse encourages devotional reverence toward Devi as an accessible, protective power who responds to cosmic needs.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a narrative preface (upakrama) that introduces an organized doctrinal listing of avatāras for remembrance, recitation, and devotional study.