Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

षोढा न्यासस्तु तारायाः प्रोक्तोऽभीष्टप्रदायकः । हृदि श्रीमदेकजटां तारिणीं शिरसि न्यसेत् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

ṣoḍhā nyāsastu tārāyāḥ prokto'bhīṣṭapradāyakaḥ | hṛdi śrīmadekajaṭāṃ tāriṇīṃ śirasi nyaset || 63 ||

Translation

The sixteenfold nyāsa of Tārā is taught as the giver of desired fruits. One should install the auspicious Ekajaṭā in the heart, and place Tāriṇī upon the head.

Word by Word

• ṣoḍhā: sixfold
• ṣoḍhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; numeral-adjective meaning ‘sixfold’ (षड्विध) qualifying ‘nyāsaḥ’ by sense

• nyāsaḥ: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• nyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• tārāyāḥ: of Tārā
• tārāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana

• proktaḥ: is said/declared
• proktaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + prokta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agrees with ‘nyāsaḥ’

• abhīṣṭa-pradāyakaḥ: bestowing the desired (boon)
• abhīṣṭa-pradāyakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhīṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + pradāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष: ‘abhīṣṭaṃ pradadāti iti’ (desired-boon-giving), qualifies ‘nyāsaḥ’

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana

• śrīmat-ekajaṭām: Śrīmat-Ekajaṭā (the glorious one-tressed goddess)
• śrīmat-ekajaṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक) + ekajaṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; कर्मधारय: ‘śrīmatī ca sā ekajaṭā ca’ (the glorious Ekajaṭā)

• tāriṇīm: Tāriṇī (the savioress)
• tāriṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; appositional to ‘śrīmat-ekajaṭām’

• śirasi: on the head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana

• nyaset: should place/install
• nyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु) with ni- (उपसर्ग) → ni-√as; nyas (धातु-आदेश)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/Imperative sense), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Ekajaṭā
• Tāriṇī

FAQs

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

It presents nyāsa as an inner consecration where the deity’s forms are installed in the practitioner’s body, making the sādhana effective and capable of granting intended spiritual or worldly aims.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as embodied reverence—invoking the deity in the heart and honoring her as the ‘savioress’ on the head—showing devotion through disciplined ritual attention and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual method (prayoga) and mantra-application—specifically nyāsa as a technical procedure for aligning body, mind, and mantra in a structured sixteenfold sequence.