Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

जलदानादिकं मंत्रैर्विदध्याद्दशभिस्ततः । ध्रुवो वज्रोदके वर्म फट्सप्तार्णो जलग्रहे ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

jaladānādikaṃ maṃtrairvidadhyāddaśabhistataḥ | dhruvo vajrodake varma phaṭsaptārṇo jalagrahe || 78 ||

Translation

ثم بعد ذلك يُؤدَّى إهداءُ الماء وما يتصل به من الشعائر بعشرةِ مَنترات. ومنها: مَنترة «دھروڤا» (Dhruva)، ومَنترة «ڤَجْرودَكا» (Vajrodaka)، ومَنترة «ڤَرْما» (Varma) للحماية؛ وعند تناول الماء تُتلى المَنترة ذات السبعة مقاطع المختومة بـ«phaṭ».

Word by Word

• जलदान-आदिकम्: water-giving etc. (rites)
• जलदान-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलदान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-शब्देन ‘आदि’ = ‘and the like’)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• विदध्यात्: should perform/arrange
• विदध्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; लिङ्गं प्रसङ्गात् (agreeing with implied ‘मन्त्रैः’)

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

• ध्रुवः: ‘Dhruva’ (mantra-word)
• ध्रुवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम (name of a mantra-syllable)

• वज्र-उदके: in/for vajra-water (ritual water)
• वज्र-उदके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वज्रस्य उदकम्)

• वर्म: ‘Varma’ (armor; mantra-word)
• वर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

• फट्: phaṭ (mantric exclamation)
• फट्: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: फट् (अव्यय/मन्त्र-निपात)
• Form: मन्त्र-निपात (mantric exclamation), अव्यय

• सप्त-अर्णः: seven-syllabled
• सप्त-अर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (सप्त अर्णानि यस्य)

• जल-ग्रहॆ: in the taking of water (ritual)
• जल-ग्रहॆ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जलस्य ग्रहः = taking/holding water)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames jala-dāna (gift of water) as a mantra-governed rite: the offering becomes spiritually efficacious when performed with specified mantra-sequences, emphasizing purity, protection (varma), and steadiness (dhruva) in ritual action.

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

While technical in tone, it supports bhakti indirectly by showing how disciplined, mantra-sanctified offerings (like water-gifts) become acts of reverence; correct ritual performance is presented as a devotional expression when aligned with śāstric injunction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-prayoga (applied ritual science) and precise sequencing—using a fixed count of mantras and context-specific recitation (e.g., at jala-graha)—a hallmark of the technical/vedāṅga-oriented sections of Book 1.3.