Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

हृत्कंठास्ये भ्रुवोर्मध्ये मस्तके चापि मत्रिणा । आद्ये लक्ष्मीसरस्वत्यौ रतिः प्रीतिश्च कृत्तिका ॥ ११९ ॥

Transliteration

hṛtkaṃṭhāsye bhruvormadhye mastake cāpi matriṇā | ādye lakṣmīsarasvatyau ratiḥ prītiśca kṛttikā || 119 ||

Translation

മന്ത്രവിദ് ഹൃദയം, കണ്ഠം, മുഖം, ഭ്രൂമധ്യം, ശിരോമസ്തകം എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിൽ (ദിവ്യശക്തികളുടെ) ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം. ആദ്യം ലക്ഷ്മീയും സരസ്വതിയും; പിന്നെ രതി, പ്രീതി, കൃത്തികാ എന്നിവയും.

Word by Word

• हृत्कण्ठास्ये: in the heart, throat, and mouth
• हृत्कण्ठास्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् + कण्ठ + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (हृत्-कण्ठ-आस्य) ‘in heart, throat, and mouth’ (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• भ्रुवोः: of the two eyebrows
• भ्रुवोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• मस्तके: on the head
• मस्तके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• मन्त्रिणा: by the knower/reciter of mantra
• मन्त्रिणा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आद्ये: in the first (position)
• आद्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the first (place)’

• लक्ष्मीसरस्वत्यौ: Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī
• लक्ष्मीसरस्वत्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी + सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• रतिः: Rati (a name)
• रतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रीतिः: Prīti (a name)
• प्रीतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृत्तिका: Kṛttikā (a name)
• कृत्तिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical mantra/nyasa procedure within Vedanga-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Sarasvati
• Rati
• Priti
• Krittika

FAQs

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

It teaches a nyāsa-style internalization of sacred powers—installing divine energies in key bodily centers—so worship becomes inward, concentrated, and mantra-driven rather than merely external.

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

By placing auspicious deities like Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī within one’s own heart and head-centers, the devotee treats the body as a temple—supporting steady remembrance and reverent worship that strengthens bhakti through disciplined mantra practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-mantra technique (nyāsa/installation) used in upāsanā: mapping mantra and devatā-shakti to bodily loci (heart, throat, mouth, brow, crown) for focused japa and worship.