Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 137

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

श्मशानांगारमाश्रित्य पूर्वायां कुजवासरे । तेन मत्रेण संवेष्ट्य निबद्धं रक्ततंतुभिः ॥ १३७ ॥

Transliteration

śmaśānāṃgāramāśritya pūrvāyāṃ kujavāsare | tena matreṇa saṃveṣṭya nibaddhaṃ raktataṃtubhiḥ || 137 ||

Translation

Man nehme Kohle vom Verbrennungsplatz (śmaśāna) am Dienstag in der Morgendämmerung; dann soll man sie, während man jenes Mantra rezitiert, einwickeln und mit roten Fäden fest binden.

Word by Word

• श्मशान-अङ्गारम्: charcoal from a cremation ground
• श्मशान-अङ्गारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्मशानस्य अङ्गारः = cremation-ground charcoal)

• आश्रित्य: having taken/using
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√श्रि (धातु; श्रि सेवायाम्/आश्रये)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having resorted to/taken

• पूर्वायाम्: in the east
• पूर्वायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (दिशि: in the east)

• कुज-वासरे: on Tuesday
• कुज-वासरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज (प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कुजस्य वासरः = Tuesday/Mars-day)

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• संवेष्ट्य: having wrapped
• संवेष्ट्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√वेष्ट् (धातु; वेष्टँ वेष्टने)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having wrapped

• निबद्धम्: bound; tied
• निबद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; described)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√बन्ध् (धातु; बन्धँ बन्धने)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle): bound/tied

• रक्त-तन्तुभिः: with red threads
• रक्त-तन्तुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रक्ताः तन्तवः = red threads)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, Vedanga/ritual-technical passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-śakti applied through precise ritual procedure—time (Tuesday/dawn), material (cremation-ground charcoal), and binding (red thread)—showing how intention and mantra are anchored in disciplined vidhi.

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

Indirectly: it reflects reliance on sacred sound (mantra) and rule-based practice (vidhi). In the Narada Purana framework, such disciplined observance supports steadiness of mind, which ultimately aids devotion, even when the immediate act is technical rather than explicitly devotional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (timing: Kuja-vāra/Tuesday and dawn) and Kalpa-style ritual procedure (how to wrap and bind while reciting the mantra), illustrating technical execution of a rite.