Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

खङ्गीशो रोचनीयेंते भगं धेहि नमोंतकः । तारादिपीठमन्त्रोऽयं वेदरामाक्षरो मतः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

khaṅgīśo rocanīyeṃte bhagaṃ dhehi namoṃtakaḥ | tārādipīṭhamantro'yaṃ vedarāmākṣaro mataḥ || 13 ||

Translation

മന്ത്രം ഇങ്ങനെ—“ഖങ്ഗീശഃ, രോചനീയേന്തേ, ഭഗം ധേഹി, നമോന്തകഃ।” ഇത് ‘താരാ’ മുതലായവയിൽ ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന പീഠമന്ത്രം; ‘വേദരാമ’ എന്ന അക്ഷരമന്ത്രമായി ഇതിനെ കണക്കാക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• खङ्गीशः: Lord of the sword-bearers / Khaṅgīśa
• खङ्गीशः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्गिन् + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संज्ञा

• रोचनीय-इति: (called) ‘rocanīya’ / thus
• रोचनीय-इति: सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण (उद्धरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रोचनीय (प्रातिपदिक; √रुच् धातु + अनीय) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति—उद्धरण/निदर्शनार्थक अव्यय (quotative particle); रोचनीय—अनीयान्त कृदन्त (gerundive) उद्धृत-शब्दः

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• भगम्: Bhaga (name/fortune)
• भगम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• धेहि: place; bestow
• धेहि: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/भाव (भावार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable interjection); नमः-प्रयोगः (salutation)

• अन्तकः: Antaka (ender/death; name)
• अन्तकः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संज्ञा

• तारा-आदि-पीठ-मन्त्रः: the mantra of the Tāra etc. seats (pīṭhas)
• तारा-आदि-पीठ-मन्त्रः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा + आदि + पीठ + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (determinative)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वेद-राम-अक्षरः: the syllable/mantra ‘Veda-rāma’
• वेद-राम-अक्षरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + राम + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संज्ञा/विशेष-नाम

• मतः: is considered/held to be
• मतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Tara (as mantra/pitha reference)

FAQs

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

It classifies and names a specific pīṭha-mantra (tārādi) and frames it as an akṣara-based mantra-formula, emphasizing correct mantra-identification and recitation as a foundation for effective upāsanā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined mantra-japa and reverential ‘namo’ formulations—devotion becomes precise worship (upāsanā) guided by authoritative mantra-vidyā rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-science: how a mantra is segmented, named, and categorized (pīṭha-mantra, akṣara-mantra), aligning with Vedāṅga-style precision in sound/recitation and ritual application.