Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

मस्तकाविधि नाभेश्च मंत्रिणा सुभगा भगा । भगसर्पिण्यथ परा भगमालिन्यनंतरम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

mastakāvidhi nābheśca maṃtriṇā subhagā bhagā | bhagasarpiṇyatha parā bhagamālinyanaṃtaram || 56 ||

Translation

其后，持咒者当于头顶与脐处作安置（nyāsa）：先请Subhagā与Bhagā；继而Bhagasarpiṇī；随后Parā；再后Bhagamālinī。

Word by Word

• मस्तक: head
• मस्तक: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• अविधि: non-prescription/irregular (reading uncertain)
• अविधि: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘non-rule/irregularity’; पाठदोषसम्भावना—सम्भवतः ‘अधि’/‘विधि’ इत्यर्थः

• नाभेः: of the navel
• नाभेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मन्त्रिणा: by the practitioner (mantrin)
• मन्त्रिणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-करणभाव), एकवचन

• सुभगा: Subhagā (name)
• सुभगा: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (mantra-name)

• भगा: Bhagā (name)
• भगा: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (mantra-name)

• भगसर्पिणी: Bhagasarpiṇī (name)
• भगसर्पिणी: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग + सर्पिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भगं सर्पति/अनुसरति इति)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/आरम्भसूचक (then/next)

• परा: the next/other
• परा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/निर्देशक (‘the next/other’)

• भगमालिनी: Bhagamālinī (name)
• भगमालिनी: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग + मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भगस्य मालिनी = garlanded/possessing ‘bhaga’)

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after/next
• अनन्तरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (immediately/afterwards)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual instruction sequence, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Subhagā
• Bhagā
• Bhagasarpiṇī
• Parā
• Bhagamālinī

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—sanctifying the body by installing specific mantra-powers at key centers (head and navel), aligning the practitioner’s inner faculties with the invoked sacred energies.

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

Though technical, the sequence supports devotional practice by preparing the body-mind as a fit vessel for worship—so mantra-japa and pūjā become focused, reverent, and spiritually effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure—precise mantra-vidhi and bodily placement (nyāsa/āṅga-nyāsa style), reflecting the Narada Purana’s technical instruction tradition within Book 1.3.