Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

तस्यां रात्रौ व्रतं कार्यं विद्याकामेन मंत्रिणा । मनोरथेषु चान्येषु गच्छेत्तां प्रजपन्मनुम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

tasyāṃ rātrau vrataṃ kāryaṃ vidyākāmena maṃtriṇā | manoratheṣu cānyeṣu gacchettāṃ prajapanmanum || 37 ||

Translation

ആ രാത്രിയിൽ വിദ്യാകാമനയുള്ള മന്ത്രസാധകൻ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. മറ്റു അഭിലാഷങ്ങൾക്കായും നിശ്ചിത മന്ത്രം നിരന്തരം ജപിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അത് ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• तस्याम्: in that (night/occasion)
• तस्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम् (pronoun)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम् (Vedic/alternate loc. form)

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• कार्यम्: to be done, obligatory
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत्-प्रत्ययः → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicative: 'to be done')

• विद्या-कामेन: by one desiring knowledge
• विद्या-कामेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विद्यायाः कामः = one desiring knowledge)

• मन्त्रिणा: by the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्रिणा: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• मनोरथेषु: in (other) desires/aims
• मनोरथेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• अन्येषु: other
• अन्येषु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies मनोरथेषु)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ताम्: her/that (goddess/one)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• प्रजपन्: while muttering/reciting
• प्रजपन्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent; concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जप् (धातु) → प्रजपन् (वर्तमान-कृदन्तः, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्तः (present active participle)

• मनुम्: the mantra (manu)
• मनुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that true attainment—especially learning (vidyā)—is supported by disciplined observance (vrata) joined with steady mantra-recitation, emphasizing purity, restraint, and focused intention.

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

Although framed as a technical instruction, it aligns with bhakti-sādhana by insisting on faithful, repeated japa and regulated conduct, which steadies the mind and turns effort into worshipful practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-prayoga (applied use of mantra) and vrata-vidhi (procedure of vow-observance), themes closely tied to ritual discipline and the technical sciences discussed in Book 1.3.