Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

वाक्कामब्लूं स्त्रीं सरांते ताराः पंच प्रकीर्तिताः । ततः कुर्याद्भूषणाख्यं न्यासमुक्तदिशा मुने ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

vākkāmablūṃ strīṃ sarāṃte tārāḥ paṃca prakīrtitāḥ | tataḥ kuryādbhūṣaṇākhyaṃ nyāsamuktadiśā mune || 59 ||

Translation

‘വാക്’, ‘കാമ’, ‘ബ്ലൂം’, ‘സ്ത്രീം’, കൂടാതെ ‘സരാ’യിൽ അവസാനിക്കുന്നതു—ഇവയാണ് അഞ്ചു ‘താരാ’ (ബീജാക്ഷരങ്ങൾ) എന്ന് പ്രസിദ്ധം. തുടർന്ന്, ഹേ മുനേ, നിർദ്ദേശിച്ച ദിക്കുകളിൽ ‘ഭൂഷണ’ നാമ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം।

Word by Word

• वाक्: Vāk (speech; syllable/name)
• वाक्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as mantra-syllable/name)

• काम: Kāma (desire; syllable/name)
• काम: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as mantra-syllable/name)

• ब्लूं: blūṃ (seed syllable)
• ब्लूं: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ब्लूं (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर)
• Form: बीजाक्षर-रूप अव्यय (mantric seed syllable)

• स्त्रीम्: the feminine (principle/letter)
• स्त्रीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सरान्ते: at the end (with ‘sara’ ending)
• सरान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव: सर-अन्ते = ‘सर’ इत्यस्य अन्ते (at the end of ‘sara’)

• ताराः: Tārās / syllables named ‘tārā’
• ताराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (agreeing with ताराḥ: five)

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/mentioned
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (ताराः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे (then/thereafter)

• कुर्यात्: should do, should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूषणाख्यम्: (a rite) called ‘Bhūṣaṇa’
• भूषणाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूषण + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: भूषण-आख्य (named ‘ornament’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न्यासमुक्तदिशा: with the direction(s) released/cleared by nyāsa
• न्यासमुक्तदिशा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास + मुक्त + दिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: न्यासेन मुक्ताः दिशः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (as instruction: ‘by/with the direction freed by nyāsa’)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-śāstra practice: specific bīja-syllables are to be recognized and then ritually ‘installed’ (nyāsa) so the practitioner’s body becomes a consecrated support for the mantra’s power and protection.

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

Though technical, it supports devotional worship by prescribing disciplined preparatory acts (nyāsa) that purify and focus the devotee before invoking the deity through mantra—turning the body and directions into a devotional field of remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—mantra-bīja usage and nyāsa (ritual placement) according to prescribed directions, a technical procedure aligned with śikṣā/mantra-prayoga traditions within the Vedāṅga-oriented portion of the text.