Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

विन्यस्य व्यापकं कुर्यान्मूलमंत्रेण साधकः । शिरः कृपाणमभयं वरं हस्तैश्च बिभ्रतीम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

vinyasya vyāpakaṃ kuryānmūlamaṃtreṇa sādhakaḥ | śiraḥ kṛpāṇamabhayaṃ varaṃ hastaiśca bibhratīm || 6 ||

Translation

Having performed the nyāsa, the practitioner should, by the root-mantra, undertake the all-pervading (protective) rite and meditate upon the Goddess bearing a severed head, a sword, the gesture of fearlessness, and the boon-giving gesture in her hands.

Word by Word

• विन्यस्य: having placed (nyāsa)
• विन्यस्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु) → विन्यस्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वा), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having placed/arranged)

• व्यापकम्: the all-pervading (form/nyāsa)
• व्यापकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (pervading/complete)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूल-मन्त्रेण: with the root-mantra
• मूल-मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• कृपाणम्: sword
• कृपाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• अभयम्: fearlessness (gesture/boon)
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• हस्तैः: with (her) hands
• हस्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

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

• बिभ्रतीम्: bearing (her)
• बिभ्रतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) → बिभ्रत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (bearing/holding)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi (the deity visualized in the rite)

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-sādhana is not merely recitation: after nyāsa, one expands the mantra’s protective presence (vyāpaka) and stabilizes devotion through precise deity-dhyāna (iconic attributes and mudrās).

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

By prescribing focused meditation on the deity’s forms and gestures (abhaya and vara), it turns ritual into heartfelt surrender—seeking fearlessness and grace as gifts of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual technique—nyāsa and mantra-viniyoga (use of the mūla-mantra)—a technical discipline aligned with śrauta/smārta-tantric prayoga methods rather than grammar or astrology.