Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

स्वमस्तके ललाटादि दिक्ष्वष्टस्वधउर्द्ध्वतः । ह्रस्वदीर्घकादिकाष्टवर्गपूर्वान्दिशाधिपान् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

svamastake lalāṭādi dikṣvaṣṭasvadhaurddhvataḥ | hrasvadīrghakādikāṣṭavargapūrvāndiśādhipān || 48 ||

Translation

Auf dem eigenen Haupt—beginnend mit der Stirn—soll man (im Geist) in den acht Richtungen und auch darüber die richtungsbeherrschenden Gottheiten einsetzen, geordnet nach der Folge der kurzen und langen Vokale und danach der Konsonantengruppen beginnend mit „ka“ (die acht varga).

Word by Word

• sva-mastake: on (one's) own head
• sva-mastake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mastaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य मस्तके)

• lalāṭa-ādi: starting from the forehead etc.
• lalāṭa-ādi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable-like compound used adverbially; अव्ययीभाव (ललाटादि = 'beginning with the forehead')

• dikṣu: in the directions
• dikṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• aṣṭa: eight
• aṣṭa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral used adjectivally; 'eight' (संख्या)

• sva-dhā: svadhā (ritual exclamation/name)
• sva-dhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय (स्वा धा)

• ūrdhvataḥ: from above; upwards
• ūrdhvataḥ: Desha/Adhikarana (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'from above/upwards'

• hrasva-dīrgha-ka-ādi: beginning with short/long (vowels), ka etc.
• hrasva-dīrgha-ka-ādi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrasva (प्रातिपदिक) + dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adjectivally: 'beginning with hrasva, dīrgha, ka etc.'

• aṣṭa-varga-pūrvān: those preceded by the eight groups
• aṣṭa-varga-pūrvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष (अष्टवर्गस्य पूर्वाः)

• diśa-adhipān: lords of the directions
• diśa-adhipān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां अधिपाः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Śikṣā context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It presents a Śikṣā-based ritual visualization (nyāsa) where sacred sounds are aligned with cosmic space (directions), treating phonetics as a sanctifying, order-giving principle for mantra practice.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing disciplined mantra-application: the devotee internalizes sacred sound through ordered placement, making worship more focused and reverent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics): classification of vowels (short/long) and consonant groups (ka-varga etc.) and their structured use in ritual placements connected to directions (dik-nyāsa).