Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

तर्जनीमध्यमाभ्यां तु कृत्वा तालत्रयं ततः । छोटिकामुद्राया कुर्याद्दिग्बन्धं देवतां स्मरन् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

tarjanīmadhyamābhyāṃ tu kṛtvā tālatrayaṃ tataḥ | choṭikāmudrāyā kuryāddigbandhaṃ devatāṃ smaran || 66 ||

Translation

Ensuite, avec l’index et le majeur, qu’on fasse trois claquements; puis, en formant la Choṭikā‑mudrā, qu’on établisse le digbandha (sceau des directions) en se souvenant de la divinité.

Word by Word

• tarjanī-madhyamābhyām: with the index and middle (fingers)
• tarjanī-madhyamābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarjanī (प्रातिपदिक) + madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Dvivacana; द्वन्द्व: ‘tarjanī ca madhyamā ca’ (index and middle fingers)

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

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + त्वा
• Form: Kṛdanta absolutive (त्वा), ‘having done/made’

• tāla-trayam: three claps/strikes
• tāla-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; द्विगु: ‘three tālas’ (three claps/strikes)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘thereafter/from that’

• choṭikā-mudrāyāḥ: of the Choṭikā-mudrā
• choṭikā-mudrāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: choṭikā (प्रातिपदिक) + mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष: ‘choṭikāyāḥ mudrā’ (the Choṭikā gesture)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• dig-bandham: directional binding (protective sealing)
• dig-bandham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक) + bandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष: ‘diśāṃ bandhaḥ’ (binding of directions)

• devatām: the deity
• devatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + smarat (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: Kṛdanta present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agrees with implied agent ‘he’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Vedāṅga/ritual-technical section, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumāra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devatā

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual protection (digbandha) is not merely physical gesture—its efficacy is linked to conscious remembrance of the deity while sealing the directions.

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

By explicitly requiring smaraṇa (remembrance) of the deity during the act, it frames the technical rite as devotion-centered—gesture and protection are completed through mindful devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical ritual procedure—use of mudrā (hand-gestures) and tāla (clapping) as standardized actions for digbandha, a common protective step in worship and mantra-ritual contexts.