Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

ताराथोग्रा महोग्रापि वज्रा काली सरस्वती । कामेश्वरी च चामुंडा इत्यष्टौ तारिकाः स्मृताः ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

tārāthogrā mahogrāpi vajrā kālī sarasvatī | kāmeśvarī ca cāmuṃḍā ityaṣṭau tārikāḥ smṛtāḥ || 58 ||

Translation

Tārā, Athogrā, Mahogrā, Vajrā, Kālī, Sarasvatī, Kāmeśvarī und Cāmuṇḍā—diese acht werden in der Überlieferung als die Tārikās erinnert.

Word by Word

• तारा: Tārā
• तारा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequencing particle)

• उग्रा: Ugrā
• उग्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महोग्रा: Mahogrā (the very fierce one)
• महोग्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोग्रा = महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + उग्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती उग्रा)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• वज्रा: Vajrā
• वज्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कामेश्वरी: Kāmeśvarī
• कामेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')

• चामुण्डा: Cāmuṇḍā
• चामुण्डा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-कार (quotative/thus)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (गणनाविशेषण), प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• तारिकाः: Tārikās (the Tārika goddesses)
• तारिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are said
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग-रूप (तारिकाः इति स्त्रीलिङ्गेऽपि सामान्यतः पुंरूपेण प्रयोगः)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tara
• Athogra
• Mahogra
• Vajra
• Kali
• Sarasvati
• Kamesvari
• Chamunda

FAQs

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

It preserves a precise traditional classification: eight named forms (Tārikās) are to be remembered as a canonical set, useful for structured contemplation and ritual identification of Devī-aspects.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through nāma-smaraṇa (remembering sacred names) and ordered reverence: the devotee approaches the Divine Mother through recognized forms, cultivating steadiness and clarity in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, list-based taxonomy typical of śāstra: correct deity-names and groupings support accurate mantra application and ritual procedure (prayoga), aligning practice with received tradition.