Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मध्ययोन्यंतराले पूजयेत्कल्पयेत्ततः । पंचभिः प्रणवैर्मूर्तिं तस्यामावाह्य देवताम् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

prāṅmadhyayonyaṃtarāle pūjayetkalpayettataḥ | paṃcabhiḥ praṇavairmūrtiṃ tasyāmāvāhya devatām || 68 ||

Translation

Kemudian hendaklah dilakukan pemujaan pada ruang antara bahagian timur dan bahagian tengah, lalu disusun upacaranya. Dengan praṇava lima kali (Oṁ berlipat lima), bentuklah citra dewa dan undanglah (āvāhana) kehadiran-Nya ke dalam bentuk itu.

Word by Word

• प्राक्: in front/eastward
• प्राक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिक्/कालवाचक-उपपद (पूर्वदिशि/पूर्वतः)

• मध्य: in the middle
• मध्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (अन्तराले इत्यर्थे)

• योनि-अन्तराले: in the space between the yoni (diagram parts)
• योनि-अन्तराले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (योनेः अन्तरालम्)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/construct
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक (thereafter)

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• प्रणवैः: with (the) praṇavas (Oṃ-syllables)
• प्रणवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• मूर्तिम्: the form/image
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तस्याम्: in that (form)
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having invoked’

• देवताम्: the deity
• देवताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Devatā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship is not merely external: the deity is consciously invoked (āvāhana) into a prepared form, aligning space, form (mūrti), and mantra (praṇava) into a focused act of devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive upāsanā—carefully preparing the worship-space and invoking the divine presence with praṇava-mantras, treating the deity as truly present and worthy of honor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual technicalities are highlighted—directional/space arrangement and mantra-application (praṇava usage) for āvāhana and forming the mūrti—reflecting applied śikṣā/mantra-prayoga and kalpa-style procedure.