Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

वामकोणे यजेद्देव्या रतिमिंदुसमप्रभाम् । सृणिपाशधरां सौम्यां मदविभ्रमविह्वलाम् ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

vāmakoṇe yajeddevyā ratimiṃdusamaprabhām | sṛṇipāśadharāṃ saumyāṃ madavibhramavihvalām || 70 ||

Translation

左の隅において、月のごとく輝く女神ラティ（Rati）を供養すべし。柔和なる姿にして、鉤（goad）と縄（noose）を執り、恋の歓喜の艶やかな揺らぎに酔えるがごとく現れる。

Word by Word

• वाम-कोणे: in the left corner
• वाम-कोणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वामः कोणः)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice to
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• देव्याः: of the goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• रतिम्: Rati (the goddess Rati)
• रतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• इन्दु-सम-प्रभाम्: having moon-like radiance
• इन्दु-सम-प्रभाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (इन्दुना समा प्रभा यस्याः)

• सृणि-पाश-धराम्: holding a sṛṇi and a noose
• सृणि-पाश-धराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृणि (प्रातिपदिक; आयुधविशेष) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सृणिं च पाशं च धरति)

• सौम्याम्: gentle/pleasant
• सौम्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मद-विभ्रम-विह्वलाम्: bewildered with intoxication and amorous play
• मद-विभ्रम-विह्वलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मदेन विभ्रमेण च विह्वला)

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rati (Goddess of love)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise directional placement and visualization for worship—showing that correct location (koṇa), form (rūpa), and attributes (āyudha) are integral to ritual efficacy and focused contemplation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive upāsanā: lovingly contemplating the deity’s gentle, luminous form and worshipping with disciplined detail, turning devotion into steady dhyāna rather than vague sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—directional/diagrammatic placement and iconographic specification used in worship manuals, aligning practice with structured procedural knowledge typical of technical sections (prayoga-style instruction).