Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

षड्दीर्घयुक्तेनाद्येन बीजेनांगक्रिया मता । पञ्चबाणांस्ततो न्यस्येन्मन्त्री त्रैलोक्यमोहनान् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍdīrghayuktenādyena bījenāṃgakriyā matā | pañcabāṇāṃstato nyasyenmantrī trailokyamohanān || 52 ||

Translation

肢体加持之仪（aṅga-kriyā）被认为应以具足六个长元音的首一种子音（bīja）而行。其后，通晓真言者当作安置（nyāsa），布置那迷摄三界的五支“箭”。

Word by Word

• षट्: six
• षट्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन (numeral used as prior member)

• दीर्घ: long (vowel)
• दीर्घ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रातिपदिकम्; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• युक्तेन: with/connected with
• युक्तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• आद्येन: first/initial
• आद्येन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक; विशेषण

• बीजेन: seed-syllable (bīja)
• बीजेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अङ्गक्रिया: limb-ritual/nyāsa action
• अङ्गक्रिया: Karta (कर्ता) / Pratijñā (predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अङ्गस्य क्रिया)

• मता: is considered
• मता: Pradhāna-vidheya (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (कृदन्त; मन् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); ‘considered/held to be’

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन (numeral used as prior member)

• बाणान्: arrows (mantric placements)
• बाणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• न्यस्येत्: should place (nyāsa)
• न्यस्येत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should place/assign’

• मन्त्री: the practitioner (mantrin)
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रैलोक्य: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound); द्विगु-समासः (त्रयाणां लोकानां समाहारः)

• मोहनान्: bewitching/enchanted
• मोहनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner sanctification accompanies outer ritual: the practitioner consecrates the body through aṅga-kriyā and nyāsa, making the worship-fit body a support for mantra-siddhi.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing disciplined mantra-worship: devotion is stabilized through correct ritual placement (nyāsa) and focused remembrance, rather than mere emotion alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra usage tied to phonetics (śikṣā): the mention of dīrgha (long vowels) stresses precise sound-length in bīja recitation, along with procedural ritual application (nyāsa).