Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

मल्लिकाजातिपुन्नागैर्होमाद्भाग्यालयो भवेत् । फलौर्बिल्यसमुद्भूतैस्तत्पत्रैर्वा हुताद्भवेत् ॥ १४६ ॥

Transliteration

mallikājātipunnāgairhomādbhāgyālayo bhavet | phalaurbilyasamudbhūtaistatpatrairvā hutādbhavet || 146 ||

Translation

以茉莉（mallikā）、素馨（jāti）与香花（punnāga）作供，于护摩（homa）中投献供物，行者便成吉祥福运之所依。又以毕尔瓦（bilva）所生之果，乃至其叶，投入为供，亦得同等瑞果。

Word by Word

• मल्लिका-जाती-पुन्नागैः: with mallikā, jāti and punnāga (flowers)
• मल्लिका-जाती-पुन्नागैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्लिका + जाती + पुन्नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर: mallikā, jāti, punnāga); पुंलिङ्ग (समासान्त); तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• होमात्: from (such) oblation
• होमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• भाग्य-आलयः: an abode of fortune
• भाग्य-आलयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्य + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भाग्यस्य आलयः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become / should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• बिल्वि-समुद्भूतैः: arisen from bilva (tree)
• बिल्वि-समुद्भूतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिल्वि/बिल्व + समुद्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भू (धातु) with सम्+उद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बिल्वे/बिल्व्यात् समुद्भूताः); भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd), बहुवचन; (qualifies तत्पत्रैः)

• तत्-पत्रैः: with its leaves (those leaves)
• तत्-पत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य पत्राणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle: or)

• हुतात्: from the offering (homa)
• हुतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हु (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'huta' used substantively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become / should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bilva
• Mallika
• Jati
• Punnaga

FAQs

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

It teaches that specific pure, sacred botanical offerings used in homa (flowers like mallikā/jāti/punnāga and bilva leaves or fruits) generate auspiciousness, making the practitioner a “seat of fortune” (bhāgyālaya) through ritual merit.

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

Although framed as a ritual instruction, it supports bhakti by emphasizing reverent offering (huti) of sacred items—especially bilva, widely associated with worship—so devotion is expressed through disciplined, pleasing oblations.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—selection of homa-dravya (offerable substances) and the stated phala (result)—a technical, procedure-focused aspect aligned with Vedanga-style practical instruction rather than narrative theology.