Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

शवपीठसमासीनां नीलकांतिं त्रिलोचनाम् । अर्द्धेन्दुशेखरां नानाभूषणाढ्यां स्मरन्न्यसेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śavapīṭhasamāsīnāṃ nīlakāṃtiṃ trilocanām | arddhenduśekharāṃ nānābhūṣaṇāḍhyāṃ smarannyaset || 41 ||

Translation

En accomplissant le nyāsa, qu’on se souvienne d’Elle en méditation—assise sur un siège de cadavre, d’éclat bleu sombre, aux trois yeux, couronnée du croissant de lune, richement parée de maints ornements—puis qu’on place les mantras en conséquence.

Word by Word

• शवपीठसमासीनाम्: seated on a corpse-seat
• शवपीठसमासीनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शव+पीठ+समासीन (प्रातिपदिक; समासीन = सम्+√आस् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—देवीम् उद्दिश्य (acc. sg.) ‘शवपीठे समासीनाम्’

• नीलकान्तिम्: blue-radiant
• नीलकान्तिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील+कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘नीला कान्तिः यस्याः’ (blue-lustrous)

• त्रिलोचनाम्: three-eyed
• त्रिलोचनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि+लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्याः’

• अर्द्धेन्दुशेखराम्: having the half-moon as crest
• अर्द्धेन्दुशेखराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्ध+इन्दु+शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अर्द्धेन्दुः शेखरः यस्याः’

• नानाभूषणाढ्याम्: adorned with many ornaments
• नानाभूषणाढ्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना+भूषण+आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक; आढ्य = √ऋध्/√अर्ध्? (धातु) क्त/प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषण ‘समृद्ध’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘नानाभूषणैः आढ्या’ (rich in various ornaments)

• स्मरन्: remembering/meditating on
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रियासह—‘स्मरन्’ (remembering)

• न्यसेत्: should place (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instructional voice to Narada on mantra/nyāsa procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Devi (three-eyed, crescent-crowned form)

FAQs

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

It teaches that nyāsa is not merely mechanical placement of mantras; it must be supported by vivid dhyāna—remembering the deity’s form—so the practitioner’s body becomes a consecrated seat of mantra and divinity.

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

Bhakti here appears as focused remembrance (smaraṇa) during ritual: devotion is expressed through attentive visualization of the deity while performing the prescribed act, uniting feeling (bhāva) with method (vidhi).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights applied ritual procedure—nyāsa as a technical discipline of mantra-application—showing the Purana’s ‘technical sciences’ style where correct visualization and placement are treated as essential parts of practice.