Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

विद्यांतकाभिधः पश्चान्नरांतक इमान्यजेत् । शक्रादींश्चैव वज्रादीन्प्रजपेत्तदनंतरम् ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

vidyāṃtakābhidhaḥ paścānnarāṃtaka imānyajet | śakrādīṃścaiva vajrādīnprajapettadanaṃtaram || 121 ||

Translation

Danach soll derjenige, der Vidyāntaka genannt wird, diese Riten vollziehen; sodann tue Narāntaka ebenso. Anschließend soll man Indra und die übrigen Götter anrufen und rezitieren, ebenso den Vajra und die anderen göttlichen Waffen, der rechten Reihenfolge gemäß.

Word by Word

• विद्या-अन्तक-अभिधः: called ‘Vidyāntaka’
• विद्या-अन्तक-अभिधः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विद्यान्तक इति अभिधः = called ‘Vidyāntaka’)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• नर-अन्तकः: Narāntaka (name)
• नर-अन्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् अन्तकः)

• इमानि: these
• इमानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अजेत्: should worship/sacrifice to
• अजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शक्र-आदीन्: Śakra and others
• शक्र-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शक्रादयः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• वज्र-आदीन्: Vajra and others
• वज्र-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वज्रादयः)

• प्रजपेत्: should recite (as japa)
• प्रजपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-अनन्तरम्: immediately thereafter
• तत्-अनन्तरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (immediately after that)

Speaker

Narada (teaching, within a technical/ritual instruction sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vidyantaka
• Narantaka
• Shakra (Indra)
• Vajra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined sequence (krama) in ritual and mantra practice—first completing prescribed acts, then invoking specific deities and their protective powers through japa.

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

Even in technical rites, devotion is expressed through ordered remembrance and recitation of divine beings and their śaktis (powers), turning ritual precision into focused reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual knowledge—how yajña/archana and prajapa are sequenced—reflecting the Vedāṅga-oriented concern for correct order and accurate recitation.