Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

द्वितीयं मनुवर्णं च शत्रुनामैवमालिखेत् । सर्वं मनुदिक्सहस्रजपाच्छवमृतिर्भवेत् ॥ १६५ ॥

Transliteration

dvitīyaṃ manuvarṇaṃ ca śatrunāmaivamālikhet | sarvaṃ manudiksahasrajapācchavamṛtirbhavet || 165 ||

Translation

真言の第二音節を書し、同様に敵の名もそのように記すべきである。全真言を四方それぞれ千遍ずつ誦すれば、その敵には「屍のごとき死」（致命の破滅）が起こる。

Word by Word

• द्वितीयम्: the second
• द्वितीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मनु-वर्णम्: the syllable/letter ‘manu’
• मनु-वर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मनोर् वर्णः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (and)

• शत्रु-नाम: the enemy’s name
• शत्रु-नाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शत्रोः नाम)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (thus/in this manner)

• आलिखेत्: should write/inscribe
• आलिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: all of it
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मनु-दिक्-सहस्र-जपात्: from a thousand recitations in the ‘manu-direction’
• मनु-दिक्-सहस्र-जपात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मनु-दिक्-सहस्रस्य जपः; ‘from the thousandfold japa in the manu-direction’)

• शव-मृतिः: death like a corpse (certain death)
• शव-मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (शववत् मृतिः)

• भवेत्: would occur / should happen
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual/mantra procedure in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

The verse reflects a technical (prayoga) use of mantra—combining writing (lekhana) and disciplined japa with directional orientation—showing the Purana’s inclusion of applied ritual science alongside philosophical teaching.

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

This verse is not primarily a bhakti teaching; it belongs to a technical-ritual register where mantra is treated as an operative discipline. In the Narada Purana’s broader framework, such practices are typically subordinate to dharma and inner purity rather than replacing devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical mantra-prayoga method: selecting specific mantra-syllables (varṇa), performing lekhana (inscription), counting japa (sahasra), and employing dik-oriented repetition—procedural knowledge aligned with technical disciplines discussed in Book 1.3.