Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 135

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

मूलेन मूर्तिं संकल्प्य तस्यामावाह्य देवताम् । अर्चयेद्विधिनानेन वक्ष्यमाणेन मन्त्रवित् ॥ १३५ ॥

Transliteration

mūlena mūrtiṃ saṃkalpya tasyāmāvāhya devatām | arcayedvidhinānena vakṣyamāṇena mantravit || 135 ||

Translation

Với mūla-mantra, người thông hiểu thần chú hãy quán tưởng hình tướng của Thần, thỉnh Thần an nhập vào hình tướng ấy, rồi phụng thờ theo nghi thức này, sẽ được trình bày tiếp sau.

Word by Word

• mūlena: by the root (mantra)
• mūlena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); here ‘by the root(-mantra)’

• mūrtim: an image/form
• mūrtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃkalpya: having visualized/formed
• saṃkalpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃkalpya (कृदन्त, √kḷp/√kalp (धातु) with sam-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्): ‘having conceived/formed (mentally)’

• tasyām: in that (form)
• tasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) referring to mūrti: ‘in it/in that (form)’

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āvāhya (कृदन्त, √vah (धातु) with ā-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्): ‘having invoked/brought (near)’

• devatām: the deity
• devatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhinā: by the prescribed method
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anena: by this
• anena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with vidhinā: ‘by this’

• vakṣyamāṇena: (that is) to be stated (next)
• vakṣyamāṇena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vakṣyamāṇa (कृदन्त, √vac (धातु))
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with vidhinā: future passive participle (शतृ/शानच् in passive sense) ‘to be stated’

• mantra-vit: the mantra-knower
• mantra-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: mantra-vit = ‘knower of mantras’ (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a procedural/vidhi sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship is not merely external: the deity is first established through saṅkalpa (intent) and āvāhana (invocation) via the root-mantra, making the ritual a conscious, sanctified presence rather than a mechanical act.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive arcana—devotional worship guided by mantra and right procedure—where the devotee intentionally invites the deity’s presence and serves that presence with reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-vidhi and ritual competence: correct use of the mūla-mantra, the technical step of āvāhana (invocation), and adherence to the forthcoming procedural rules—skills aligned with applied Vedic ritual science.