Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

मात्रां मुद्रां तथा मित्रां पूज्याः पत्रेषु मातरः । पद्मस्यास्य सुयत्नेन ब्राह्मी नारायणीत्यपि ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

mātrāṃ mudrāṃ tathā mitrāṃ pūjyāḥ patreṣu mātaraḥ | padmasyāsya suyatnena brāhmī nārāyaṇītyapi || 14 ||

Translation

Sur les pétales du lotus, qu’on vénère les Déesses-Mères—Mātrā, Mudrā et Mitrā; et, avec un soin appliqué, aussi Brāhmī et Nārāyaṇī en rapport avec ce lotus.

Word by Word

• मात्राम्: Mātrā (name/form)
• मात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (नामनिर्देश)

• मुद्राम्: Mudrā (name/form)
• मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (नामनिर्देश)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तुल्यवाचक (adverb/conjunction: likewise/also)

• मित्राम्: Mitrā (name/form)
• मित्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (नामनिर्देश)

• पूज्याः: to be worshipped, worthy of worship
• पूज्याः: Vidhaya-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (मातरः) ; भाव्य/योग्य अर्थ (gerundive) from √पूज्

• पत्रेषु: in the petals/leaves
• पत्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• मातरः: the Mothers (Mātṛs)
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• पद्मस्य: of the lotus
• पद्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; सम्बन्ध

• सुयत्नेन: with great care/effort
• सुयत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; करण (means)

• ब्राह्मी: Brāhmī
• ब्राह्मी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नाम (मातृ-विशेष)

• नारायणि: Nārāyaṇī
• नारायणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नाम (मातृ-विशेष)

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/समाप्तिवाचक (quotative particle)

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual/vidhi within the Vedanga-technical section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmi
• Narayani
• Matrikas

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not only devotion but also precise sacred arrangement: the lotus and its leaves become a ritual mandala where specific Mother-powers (Śaktis) are invoked to sanctify the rite.

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

By naming Nārāyaṇī alongside the Mothers, the verse frames Śakti-worship as supportive to Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa-bhakti—devotion expressed through careful, reverent ritual service (sevā) and correct placement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual instruction: assigning deities to specific locations (petals/leaves) and performing pūjā with suyatna (exactness), a hallmark of technical liturgical procedure.