Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

द्रामाद्यां द्राविणीं मूर्ध्निं द्रामाद्यां क्षोभणी पदे । क्लींवशीकरणीं वक्त्रे गुह्ये ब्लृं बीजपूर्विकाम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

drāmādyāṃ drāviṇīṃ mūrdhniṃ drāmādyāṃ kṣobhaṇī pade | klīṃvaśīkaraṇīṃ vaktre guhye blṛṃ bījapūrvikām || 53 ||

Translation

‘ദ്രാം’ ആദിയായ ദ്രാവിണിയെ ശിരസ്സിൽ, ‘ദ്രാം’ ആദിയായ ക്ഷോഭണിയെ പാദങ്ങളിൽ; മുഖത്തിൽ വശീകരിണി ‘ക്ലീം’ നെ, ഗുഹ്യസ്ഥാനത്ത് ‘ബ്ലൃം’ ബീജപൂർവികയെ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• द्रामाद्याम्: (one) beginning with “drām”
• द्रामाद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्राम् + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्राम्-आद्यः = ‘beginning with drām’)

• द्राविणीम्: Drāviṇī (a mantra/śakti-name)
• द्राविणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्राविणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (mantra-name)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• द्रामाद्याम्: (one) beginning with “drām”
• द्रामाद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्राम् + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (beginning with drām)

• क्षोभणीम्: Kṣobhaṇī (agitator; mantra-name)
• क्षोभणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षोभणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (mantra-name)

• पदे: on the feet/at the foot-position
• पदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• क्लीम्: “klīm” (seed syllable)
• क्लीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्लीम् (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्; मन्त्र-ध्वनिरूपम् (seed syllable)

• वशीकरणीम्: Vaśīkaraṇī (subjugating; mantra-name)
• वशीकरणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वशीकरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (mantra-name)

• वक्त्रे: in the mouth/face
• वक्त्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गुह्ये: in the secret part (genitals)
• गुह्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ब्लृम्: “blṛṃ” (seed syllable)
• ब्लृम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ब्लृम् (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्; मन्त्र-ध्वनिरूपम्

• बीजपूर्विकाम्: preceded by a bīja
• बीजपूर्विकाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बीजं पूर्वं यस्याः/या)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical mantra-nyasa practice)

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 teaches a precise nyāsa (ritual placement) of specific bīja-syllables on the body, presenting the body as a sacred support for mantra-shakti—prosperity (drāviṇī), activation (kṣobhaṇī), attraction (klīṃ), and a guarded inner potency (blṛṃ).

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti-oriented worship by prescribing a disciplined preparatory rite (nyāsa) that steadies speech, mind, and body for focused japa and pūjā, making devotion more concentrated and ritually correct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidyā within the technical disciplines—how specific seed syllables are assigned to bodily loci (a procedural ritual science), emphasizing correct phonetic form and placement as part of effective practice.