Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 127

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

जिह्वायां विलिखेन्मंत्रं मध्वाज्याभ्यां शलाकया । सुवर्ण कृतया यद्वा मंत्री धवलदूर्वया ॥ १२७ ॥

Transliteration

jihvāyāṃ vilikhenmaṃtraṃ madhvājyābhyāṃ śalākayā | suvarṇa kṛtayā yadvā maṃtrī dhavaladūrvayā || 127 ||

Translation

Qu’il inscrive le mantra sur la langue à l’aide d’une petite baguette trempée dans le miel et le ghee ; ou bien le pratiquant peut le tracer avec un stylet d’or, ou avec de la dūrvā blanche.

Word by Word

• जिह्वायाम्: on the tongue
• जिह्वायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विलिखेत्: should write/inscribe
• विलिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मधु-आज्याभ्याम्: with honey and ghee
• मधु-आज्याभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (द्वन्द्व), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• शलाकया: with a stylus/rod
• शलाकया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सुवर्ण-कृतया: made of gold
• सुवर्ण-कृतया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष: ‘सुवर्णेन कृत’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शलाकायाः)

• यद्वा: or else
• यद्वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive: ‘or else’)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धवल-दूर्वया: with white dūrvā grass
• धवल-दूर्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धवल (प्रातिपदिक) + दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise mantra-prayoga: sanctifying speech by ritually placing the mantra on the tongue, symbolizing that the mantra should arise from a purified organ of utterance and disciplined practice.

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

By emphasizing careful, reverent handling of the mantra, it supports bhakti as disciplined worship—where devotion is expressed through correct sacred procedure and purity in recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual know-how connected to Vedanga-style practice—especially the disciplined use of speech (linked with Śikṣā) and precise prayoga methods for mantra application.