Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

भैरवीं महदाद्यां तां सिंहाद्यां धूम्रपूर्विकाम् । भीमोन्मत्तादिकां चापि वशीकरणभैरवीम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

bhairavīṃ mahadādyāṃ tāṃ siṃhādyāṃ dhūmrapūrvikām | bhīmonmattādikāṃ cāpi vaśīkaraṇabhairavīm || 16 ||

Translation

Er sprach auch von Bhairavī in ihren vielen Gestalten—Mahadādyā, Siṁhādyā, Dhūmrapūrvikā und Formen wie Bhīmā und Unmattā—samt Vaśīkaraṇa-bhairavī, der Bhairavī, die mit Riten der Unterwerfung verbunden ist.

Word by Word

• भैरवीम्: Bhairavī
• भैरवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (उपास्य-देवी)

• महदाद्याम्: beginning with Mahat (etc.)
• महदाद्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैरवीम्); समास: महत्-आद्य (beginning with Mahat)

• ताम्: her/that (goddess)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; भैरवीम्-सम्बन्धी

• सिंहाद्याम्: beginning with Siṃha (etc.)
• सिंहाद्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैरवीम्); समास: सिंह-आद्य (beginning with Siṃha etc.)

• धूम्रपूर्विकाम्: with Dhūmra as the first/preceding
• धूम्रपूर्विकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम्र + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैरवीम्); समास: धूम्र-पूर्विका (having Dhūmra as the first/preceding)

• भीमोन्मत्तादिकाम्: beginning with Bhīma, Unmatta, etc.
• भीमोन्मत्तादिकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + उन्मत्त + आदि + का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (भैरवीम्); समास: भीम-उन्मत्त-आदि (beginning with Bhīma, Unmatta, etc.)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: also)

• वशीकरणभैरवीम्: Vaśīkaraṇa-bhairavī (Bhairavī of subjugation)
• वशीकरणभैरवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वशीकरण + भैरवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म; समास: वशीकरणस्य भैरवी (Bhairavī connected with subjugation/attraction)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue on vidyās/technical mantra traditions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhairavi
• Mahadadya
• Simhadya
• Dhumrapurvika
• Bhima
• Unmatta
• Vashikarana-bhairavi

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a catalog of specific Bhairavī-names used in vidyā (mantra/ritual science), indicating that spiritual power is discussed in terms of precisely defined deity-forms and their ritual applications.

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

Indirectly: by naming deity-forms, it shows that devotion in the Purāṇic world can be expressed through focused upāsanā (worship) with specific names and forms, though the verse itself is more technical than devotional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-vidyā style classification—accurate naming and enumeration of forms used in rites—reflecting the Purāṇa’s ‘technical sciences’ tone in Book 1.3 rather than a grammar or astrology lesson.