Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

वर्णैश्चतुर्विंशतिभिर्हृत्त्रयोदशभिः शिरः । शिखाष्टादशभिः प्रोक्ता वर्म तावद्भिरक्षरैः ॥ ११२ ॥

Transliteration

varṇaiścaturviṃśatibhirhṛttrayodaśabhiḥ śiraḥ | śikhāṣṭādaśabhiḥ proktā varma tāvadbhirakṣaraiḥ || 112 ||

Translation

ഇരുപത്തിനാലു അക്ഷരങ്ങളാൽ അംഗങ്ങൾക്ക് വർമം (രക്ഷ) നിർദ്ദേശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; ഹൃദയത്തിന് പതിമൂന്ന്; ശിരസ്സിനും പതിമൂന്ന്; ശിഖയ്ക്ക് പതിനെട്ട്—ഇത്ര അക്ഷരങ്ങളാൽ രക്ഷാകവചം സമ്പൂർണ്ണമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वर्णैः: by letters/syllables
• वर्णैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/इन्स्ट्रुमेण्टल), बहुवचन

• चतुर्विंशतिभिः: by twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशतिभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्दः), तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वर्णैः)

• हृत्: heart (region)
• हृत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सन्दर्भे—अङ्गनाम)

• त्रयोदशभिः: by thirteen
• त्रयोदशभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्दः), तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षरैः/वर्णैः)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अङ्गनाम)

• शिखा: topknot/crest (śikhā)
• शिखा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अष्टादशभिः: by eighteen
• अष्टादशभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्दः), तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षरैः/वर्णैः)

• प्रोक्ता: is said/declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘कथिता/उच्यते’

• वर्म: armor/protective formula (varma)
• वर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तावद्भिः: by that many
• तावद्भिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षरैः)

• अक्षरैः: by syllables/letters
• अक्षरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/mantra-technical section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It presents a mantra-technical rule: protection (varma/kavaca) is established by placing specific syllable-count mantras on key centers (heart, head, śikhā), emphasizing disciplined phonetic precision (akṣara) as a means of spiritual safeguarding.

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

While primarily technical, it supports Bhakti practice by prescribing a structured protective nyāsa/kavaca approach that steadies the devotee’s body-mind for focused worship and japa, a common prerequisite in Vishnu-oriented ritual disciplines.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-vidhi are highlighted: the efficacy is tied to exact akṣara (syllable) counts and correct application to bodily loci (hṛt, śiraḥ, śikhā), reflecting precision in recitation and ritual placement.