Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 164

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

पंचगव्येन शांतिः स्याज्ज्वरस्य पयसापि वा । मंत्राद्या क्षरमालिख्य शत्रूनाम ततः परम् ॥ १६४ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcagavyena śāṃtiḥ syājjvarasya payasāpi vā | maṃtrādyā kṣaramālikhya śatrūnāma tataḥ param || 164 ||

Translation

بخار کی تسکین پنچ گویہ سے یا دودھ سے بھی ہو سکتی ہے۔ پھر منتر کے آغاز میں اَکھنڈ (ناقابلِ زوال) حرف لکھ کر، اس کے بعد دشمنوں کے بارے میں اس کا استعمال کرے۔

Word by Word

• पञ्च-गव्येन: with pañcagavya (five cow-products)
• पञ्च-गव्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्चानां गव्यानां समाहारः)

• शान्तिः: pacification
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्यात्: may be / would occur
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ज्वरस्य: of fever
• ज्वरस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पयसā: with milk
• पयसā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (or)

• मन्त्र-आद्याः: (letters) beginning with the mantra
• मन्त्र-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मन्त्रः आदिः येषां ते = beginning with the mantra)

• क्षरम्: a syllable/letter
• क्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘syllable/letter’

• आलिख्य: having written
• आलिख्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having written/inscribed’

• शत्रूनाम्: of enemies
• शत्रूनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb: then/thereafter)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: further/next)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within the technical/ritual section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It frames disease-removal (jvara-śānti) and protection as śānti-karmas: physical remedies (pañcagavya, milk) are paired with mantra-vidhi, showing the Narada Purana’s technical approach to harmonizing body, speech (mantra), and intention.

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

While not a direct bhakti-verse, it reflects a devotional worldview where sacred substances and mantra—rooted in reverence for dharma and the sanctity of the cow—are used with disciplined procedure, implying faith-guided practice rather than mere material treatment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-vidhi and akṣara-prayoga are emphasized: placing/writing the ‘imperishable syllable’ (commonly Oṃ) at the mantra’s beginning, a technical rule aligned with śikṣā (mantric phonetics) and ritual procedure used in śānti and protective rites.