Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

आप्यायिनी चन्द्रयुक्ता माया च वदनांतरे । सकामिका क्रुधा शांतिश्चन्द्रालंकृतमस्तका ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

āpyāyinī candrayuktā māyā ca vadanāṃtare | sakāmikā krudhā śāṃtiścandrālaṃkṛtamastakā || 36 ||

Translation

আপ্যায়িনী চন্দ্ৰযুক্ত, মায়া মুখান্তৰত অৱস্থিত; আৰু সকামিকা, ক্ৰুধা, শান্তি—ইহঁতৰ মস্তক চন্দ্ৰালংকৃত বুলি কোৱা হৈছে।

Word by Word

• आप्यायिनी: nourishing/causing growth
• आप्यायिनी: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-प्यै (धातु) → आप्यायिनी (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, णिनि/इनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त (agentive/possessive feminine)

• चन्द्र-युक्ता: joined with the moon
• चन्द्र-युक्ता: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रेण युक्ता)

• माया: Māyā (name/aspect)
• माया: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• वदन-अन्तरे: within the mouth/face (in the midst of the face)
• वदन-अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वदनस्य अन्तरे)

• सकामिका: desirous/with desire
• सकामिका: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कामिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सकामः/सकामिनी)

• क्रुधा: anger/wrath
• क्रुधा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चन्द्र-अलंकृत-मस्तका: whose head is adorned with the moon
• चन्द्र-अलंकृत-मस्तका: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकृत (अलम्-कृ धातु, क्त) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रेण अलंकृतं मस्तकं यस्याः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Maya
• Shanti

FAQs

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

It classifies subtle powers (śaktis) by their iconographic marks—especially the Moon—indicating how specific divine functions (nourishment, illusion, desire, wrath, pacification) are contemplated in upāsanā and mantra-devatā identification.

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

By naming personified qualities like Śānti and linking them to recognizable divine symbols (Chandra), it guides a devotee’s focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent contemplation of divine attributes during worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Devatā-lakṣaṇa and mantra-identification methodology—using markers like Chandra (a key jyotiṣa symbol) and functional names (Āpyāyinī, Śānti) to correctly recognize and apply a deity/power in ritual and recitation contexts.