Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

पादं गोरोचनांतानि त्रीणि पिष्ट्वाहिमांभसा । विदध्यात्तिलकं भाले यान्पश्येद्यैर्विलोक्यते ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

pādaṃ gorocanāṃtāni trīṇi piṣṭvāhimāṃbhasā | vidadhyāttilakaṃ bhāle yānpaśyedyairvilokyate || 94 ||

Translation

ഗോരോചനാന്തമായ മൂന്ന് ദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ അഹിംസക (ശുദ്ധ) ജലത്തിൽ അരച്ച് നെറ്റിയിൽ തിലകം ധരിക്കണം. ആ തിലകത്തോടെ അവൻ ആരെയെങ്കിലും നോക്കുമ്പോൾ അവർയും അവനെ പ്രസന്നദൃഷ്ടിയോടെ നോക്കും.

Word by Word

• पादम्: one part
• पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; परिमाणार्थे ‘one part’

• गो-रोचन-अन्तानि: ending with (i.e., including) gorocanā
• गो-रोचन-अन्तानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + रोचना (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (त्रीणि इति); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोरोचना अन्ते येषां = ending with/including gorocanā)

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• पिष्ट्वा: having ground/pounded
• पिष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पिष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय); पूर्वक्रिया

• अहिम-आम्भसा: with cold water
• अहिम-आम्भसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिम (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अहिमम् अम्भः = cold water)

• विदध्यात्: should apply/prepare
• विदध्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तिलकम्: tilaka mark
• तिलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• भाले: on the forehead
• भाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• यान्: whom
• यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे ‘whom’

• पश्येत्: should see
• पश्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; ‘by whom/with whom’

• विलोक्यते: is looked at / is gazed upon
• विलोक्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√लोक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive/कर्मणि)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a ritual method where a properly prepared forehead tilaka functions as an auspicious marker, shaping one’s social and spiritual interactions through purity, restraint (ahimsā), and sanctified substances.

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

While not directly a bhakti hymn, it supports devotional culture by emphasizing external signs of sacred discipline (tilaka) and ritual purity, which traditionally accompany worship and temple-going in Vaishnava and broader Vedic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual know-how—selection of substances, purification of water, and correct application of tilaka—aligned with practical disciplines associated with kalpa-style ritual method and purity rules used in Vedic rites.