Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

अष्टौ वर्गान्स्वरद्वंद्वपूर्वकान् बीजसंयुतान् । ताराद्या न्यासपूर्वाश्च प्रयोज्या अष्टशक्तयः ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭau vargānsvaradvaṃdvapūrvakān bījasaṃyutān | tārādyā nyāsapūrvāśca prayojyā aṣṭaśaktayaḥ || 57 ||

Translation

Die acht Gruppen (der Buchstaben) sind anzuwenden: jede, von einem Vokalpaar eingeleitet und mit den Bīja‑Silben verbunden. Beginnend mit „Tārā“ (Oṃ) und nach zuvor vollzogenem Nyāsa, sollen die acht Śaktis in der Praxis eingesetzt werden.

Word by Word

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral qualifying vargān

• vargān: groups/classes
• vargān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• svara-dvandva-pūrvakān: preceded by vowel-pairs
• svara-dvandva-pūrvakān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svara (प्रातिपदिक) + dvandva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; ‘preceded by the vowel-pairs’ qualifying vargān

• bīja-saṃyutān: joined with seed-syllables
• bīja-saṃyutān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; ‘combined with seed (mantras)’ qualifying vargān

• tārā-ādyāḥ: beginning with Tārā
• tārā-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘beginning with Tārā’ qualifying śaktayaḥ

• nyāsa-pūrvāḥ: preceded by nyāsa
• nyāsa-pūrvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; ‘having nyāsa first/preceded by nyāsa’ qualifying śaktayaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• prayojyāḥ: should be employed
• prayojyāḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√yuj (धातु) → prayojya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (obligatory/passive potential), Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; ‘to be employed/should be applied’ qualifying śaktayaḥ

• aṣṭa-śaktayaḥ: the eight śaktis
• aṣṭa-śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; द्विगु: ‘eight powers/śaktis’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Tārā (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-power is activated through disciplined method: correct phonetic structure (letter-classes with vowels and bījas) and inner consecration through nyāsa, after which the Śaktis are ritually ‘brought into use’.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing a reverent, purified approach to mantra-practice—beginning with Oṃ and sanctifying the body through nyāsa—so worship becomes focused, embodied devotion rather than mere recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) is implied through vowel/letter-class arrangement, and ritual science through nyāsa and bīja-application—showing how sound-structure and procedure together govern effective mantra-prayoga.