Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

सिंहव्याघ्रान्महासर्पान्भूतवेतालराक्षसान् । दर्शनादेव वशयेत्तिलकं धारयन्नरः ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

siṃhavyāghrānmahāsarpānbhūtavetālarākṣasān | darśanādeva vaśayettilakaṃ dhārayannaraḥ || 99 ||

Translation

തിലകം ധരിക്കുന്ന പുരുഷൻ വെറും ദർശനമാത്രത്താൽ തന്നെ സിംഹം, കടുവ, മഹാസർപ്പങ്ങൾ, കൂടാതെ ഭൂതം, വേതാളം, രാക്ഷസൻ എന്നിവരെയും വശപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सिंह-व्याघ्रान्: lions and tigers
• सिंह-व्याघ्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार/इतरेतर)

• महा-सर्पान्: great serpents
• महा-सर्पान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः सर्पाः)

• भूत-वेताल-राक्षसान्: spirits, vetālas, and demons
• भूत-वेताल-राक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + वेताल (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बहुपद-द्वन्द्वः (भूताः च वेतालाः च राक्षसाः च)

• दर्शनात्: from (mere) sight
• दर्शनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वशयेत्: should subdue/bring under control
• वशयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तिलकम्: tilaka
• तिलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धारयन्: wearing/holding
• धारयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धारयत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bearing/wearing’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical-ritual context; transmitted within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

The verse presents tilaka as a visible dharmic seal: a sacred marker that conveys spiritual authority and protective merit (rakṣā), said to pacify both external dangers (wild beasts) and subtle harms (bhūta-vetāla influences).

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

Tilaka commonly signifies dedication to a chosen deity (especially Vaiṣṇava identity). By stressing the power of being “seen” with tilaka, the verse implies that outward signs of devotion, grounded in inner faith and discipline, radiate protective and harmonizing influence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual practice (kalpa-style conduct) within the Vedāṅga/technical stream: the correct adoption of auspicious external marks (tilaka-dhāraṇa) as a recognized protective observance (rakṣā-prayoga).