Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

जातिबिल्वभवैः पुष्पैर्मधुरत्रयसंयुतैः । नरनारीनरपतीन्होमेन वशयेत्क्रमात् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

jātibilvabhavaiḥ puṣpairmadhuratrayasaṃyutaiḥ | naranārīnarapatīnhomena vaśayetkramāt || 88 ||

Translation

ജാതി-ബില്വപുഷ്പങ്ങളെ ത്രിമധുരം (മൂന്ന് മധുരദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ) ചേർത്ത് ഹോമം ചെയ്താൽ ക്രമമായി പുരുഷന്മാരും സ്ത്രീകളും രാജാക്കളും വരെ വശമാകും.

Word by Word

• जाति-बिल्व-भवैः: arising from jasmine and bilva (trees)
• जाति-बिल्व-भवैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘पुष्पैः’ इति — masculine, Instrumental plural; adjective qualifying puṣpaiḥ

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — neuter, Instrumental plural

• मधुर-त्रय-संयुतैः: combined with three sweet ingredients
• मधुर-त्रय-संयुतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + संयुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; सम्+युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘पुष्पैः’ इति — masculine, Instrumental plural; ‘endowed with three sweet (substances)’

• नर-नारी-नरपतीन्: men, women, and kings
• नर-नारी-नरपतीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + नरपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — masculine, Accusative plural; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समाहार/इतरेतर) — copulative compound

• होमेन: by (means of) oblation/ritual offering
• होमेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — masculine, Instrumental singular

• वशयेत्: should subdue
• वशयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — optative, 3rd singular, parasmaipada

• क्रमात्: gradually/in sequence
• क्रमात्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन — masculine, Ablative singular; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in due order/gradually’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical/ritual context of Purva Bhaga 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It presents a technical homa-prayoga from the Vedanga-oriented section, illustrating how specific ritual materials (flowers and madhura-traya) are prescribed for particular, worldly results (vaśīkaraṇa/influence).

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

This verse is primarily pragmatic and ritualistic rather than devotional; it contrasts with bhakti-focused teachings by emphasizing result-oriented rite (kāmya-karma) instead of surrender to Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—selection of dravya (offerings) and the ordered performance (kramāt) of homa—typical of technical instructions associated with Kalpa/ritual procedure.