Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

शिरोमालामसृग्लिप्तस्तनीं जपवटीं करैः । विद्यामभीतिं च वरं दधतीं त्रीक्षणाननाम् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

śiromālāmasṛgliptastanīṃ japavaṭīṃ karaiḥ | vidyāmabhītiṃ ca varaṃ dadhatīṃ trīkṣaṇānanām || 61 ||

Translation

അവളുടെ സ്തനങ്ങൾ രക്തലിപ്തം; ശിരസ്സിൽ മാല ധരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; കൈകളിൽ ജപമാലയും കപാലപാത്രവും വഹിക്കുന്നു; അവൾ വിദ്യ, അഭയം, വരം എന്നിവ നൽകുന്നു—ത്രിനയനയും ഭയാനകമുഖിയുമായ ദേവി।

Word by Word

• शिरोमाला: a head-garland
• शिरोमाला: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: शिरसि माला/शिरसः माला; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• असृग्लिप्तस्तनीम्: whose breasts are smeared with blood
• असृग्लिप्तस्तनीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असृज्/असृक् + लिप्त (कृदन्त) + स्तनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: असृजा लिप्तौ स्तनौ यस्याः सा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying देवीम्)

• जपवटीम्: a rosary (for japa)
• जपवटीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप + वटी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: जपस्य वटी (rosary-string); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• करैः: with (her) hands
• करैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विद्याम्: knowledge / a mantra-vidyā
• विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभीतिम्: fearlessness (abhaya)
• अभीतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दधतीम्: bearing, holding
• दधतीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (भैरवीम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• त्रीक्षणाननाम्: three-eyed, with a (three-eyed) face
• त्रीक्षणाननाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + ईक्षण + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: त्रीणि ईक्षणानि यस्याः (three-eyed) / (or) त्रीक्षणं आननं यस्याः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in a descriptive/recitational passage within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (three-eyed Goddess)

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna-style iconographic cue: the Goddess is visualized as both fierce and beneficent—terrifying to obstacles yet bestowing vidyā (spiritual knowledge), abhaya (protection), and vara (boons) to the devotee.

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

By giving a concrete form for contemplation—hands, emblems, and attributes—the verse supports bhakti through focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and mantra-japa, making devotion steady via visualization and reverent awe.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical emphasis is on ritual-application: mantra-japa (japa) supported by dhyāna/iconography—tools used alongside śikṣā (correct recitation) and kalpa-style worship procedure, even if a specific Vedāṅga is not named directly.