Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

स्वमस्तके ललाटादि दिक्ष्वष्टस्वधउर्द्ध्वतः । ह्रस्वदीर्घकादिकाष्टवर्गपूर्वान्दिशाधिपान् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

svamastake lalāṭādi dikṣvaṣṭasvadhaurddhvataḥ | hrasvadīrghakādikāṣṭavargapūrvāndiśādhipān || 48 ||

Translation

Sur sa propre tête—en commençant par le front—qu’on place (mentalement), dans les huit directions et aussi au-dessus, les divinités présidant aux directions, selon l’ordre qui commence par les voyelles brèves et longues, puis les groupes de consonnes à partir de « ka » (les huit varga).

Word by Word

• sva-mastake: on (one's) own head
• sva-mastake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mastaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य मस्तके)

• lalāṭa-ādi: starting from the forehead etc.
• lalāṭa-ādi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable-like compound used adverbially; अव्ययीभाव (ललाटादि = 'beginning with the forehead')

• dikṣu: in the directions
• dikṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• aṣṭa: eight
• aṣṭa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral used adjectivally; 'eight' (संख्या)

• sva-dhā: svadhā (ritual exclamation/name)
• sva-dhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय (स्वा धा)

• ūrdhvataḥ: from above; upwards
• ūrdhvataḥ: Desha/Adhikarana (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'from above/upwards'

• hrasva-dīrgha-ka-ādi: beginning with short/long (vowels), ka etc.
• hrasva-dīrgha-ka-ādi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrasva (प्रातिपदिक) + dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adjectivally: 'beginning with hrasva, dīrgha, ka etc.'

• aṣṭa-varga-pūrvān: those preceded by the eight groups
• aṣṭa-varga-pūrvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष (अष्टवर्गस्य पूर्वाः)

• diśa-adhipān: lords of the directions
• diśa-adhipān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां अधिपाः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Śikṣā context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It presents a Śikṣā-based ritual visualization (nyāsa) where sacred sounds are aligned with cosmic space (directions), treating phonetics as a sanctifying, order-giving principle for mantra practice.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing disciplined mantra-application: the devotee internalizes sacred sound through ordered placement, making worship more focused and reverent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics): classification of vowels (short/long) and consonant groups (ka-varga etc.) and their structured use in ritual placements connected to directions (dik-nyāsa).