Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

क्रोधोऽस्त्रं मनुवर्णोऽयं मनुः पुष्पादिशोधने । तारः पाशः परा स्वाहा पंचार्णस्चित्तशोधने ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

krodho'straṃ manuvarṇo'yaṃ manuḥ puṣpādiśodhane | tāraḥ pāśaḥ parā svāhā paṃcārṇascittaśodhane || 91 ||

Translation

„Krodha“ ist das Astra-Mantra. Dieses Mantra, aus den vorgeschriebenen Silben gebildet, dient zur Reinigung von Blumen und anderen Ritualgaben. „Tāra“, „Pāśa“, „Parā“ und „Svāhā“ sowie das fünfsilbige Mantra sind zur Reinigung des Geistes.

Word by Word

• krodhaḥ: Krodha
• krodhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• astram: weapon (mantra-weapon)
• astram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य-विशेषणभावः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (predicate nominative)

• manuvarṇaḥ: the syllable/letter of Manu
• manuvarṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu-varṇa (प्रातिपदिक; मनु + वर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मनोर् वर्णः)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (this)

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• puṣpa-ādi-śodhane: in the purification of flowers etc.
• puṣpa-ādi-śodhane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa-ādi-śodhana (प्रातिपदिक; पुष्प + आदि + शोधन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पादीनां शोधनम्)

• tāraḥ: Tāra
• tāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• pāśaḥ: noose
• pāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• parā: Parā (supreme; name)
• parā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (नाम/विशेषणरूपेण)

• svāhā: svāhā (offering exclamation)
• svāhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svāhā (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: मन्त्र-निपातः (exclamation used in offerings); अव्यय-प्रयोगः

• paṃcārṇaḥ: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• paṃcārṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca-arṇa (प्रातिपदिक; पञ्च + अर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च अर्णानि यस्य)

• citta-śodhane: in the purification of the mind
• citta-śodhane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta-śodhana (प्रातिपदिक; चित्त + शोधन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (चित्तस्य शोधनम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical ritual-mantra usage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Oṁ (Tāra)
• Svāhā

FAQs

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

It links outer ritual purity (purifying flowers and offerings) with inner purity (citta-śodhana), showing that mantra-practice is meant to cleanse both the worship materials and the worshipper’s mind.

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

By prescribing mantras for purification, it frames bhakti as disciplined worship: offerings become fit for the deity and the devotee’s mind becomes steady and clear for remembrance and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual procedure: selecting specific mantras (astra-mantra, Tāra/Oṁ, svāhā, and pañcākṣarī) for śodhana—purifying ritual items and performing mental purification as part of mantra-vidhi.