Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

दीपकाप्रीतिचन्द्राढ्या द्विधा चेद्रञ्जितापुनः । वतिवह्निप्रियामंत्रो धूमावत्या गजाक्षरः ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

dīpakāprīticandrāḍhyā dvidhā cedrañjitāpunaḥ | vativahnipriyāmaṃtro dhūmāvatyā gajākṣaraḥ || 155 ||

Translation

‘دیپک’، ‘پریت’ اور ‘چندر’ سے معمور منتر-صورت کو دو حصّوں میں بانٹ کر پھر ‘رنجیت’ کیا جائے تو وتی اور آگ کو محبوب منتر حاصل ہوتا ہے؛ اور دھوماوتی کے ساتھ ‘گجاکشر’ بھی پھل دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• दीपका-प्रीति-चन्द्र-आढ्या: endowed with (the terms) dīpakā, prīti, candra
• दीपका-प्रीति-चन्द्र-आढ्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपका (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्त्र/विद्या-नामरूपे): ‘दीपकाप्रीतिचन्द्रैः आढ्या’ (endowed with/containing the words dīpakā, prīti, candra)

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): द्विप्रकारेण (in two ways)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conditional particle): यदि (if)

• रञ्जिता: colored/pleased
• रञ्जिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘colored/pleased’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): पुनरपि (again)

• वति-वह्नि-प्रिया-मन्त्रः: the mantra (with the words) vati, vahni, priyā
• वति-वह्नि-प्रिया-मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वति (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वति-वह्नि-प्रिया’ इति पदैः युक्तः मन्त्रः (a mantra containing/connected with vati, vahni, priyā)

• धूमावत्या: by/with Dhūmāvatī
• धूमावत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूमावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/सह (by/with Dhūmāvatī)

• गज-अक्षरः: the syllable ‘gaja’
• गज-अक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘गजस्य अक्षरः’ / ‘गज-नामाक्षरः’ (the syllable/letter ‘gaja’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga/mantra-vidya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Dhūmāvatī

FAQs

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

It presents mantra-vidyā as a disciplined, rule-based science where specific named elements and syllables (akṣaras) are combined to produce a targeted mantra, emphasizing precision in sacred speech.

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

Indirectly: by treating mantra as a valid support for worship, it frames devotion as strengthened through correct recitation and correct mantra-form, which purifies attention and steadies the mind in sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Akṣara-based construction and splitting/combining of terms (a vyākaraṇa-like method) used for mantra formation—showing a technical approach to phonetics and linguistic derivation applied to ritual practice.