Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

कारिण्यंते दीर्घवर्म अस्त्रं वह्निप्रियांतिमः । त्रयोविंशतिवर्णात्मा शिखाया बंधने मनुः ॥ ८२ ॥

Transliteration

kāriṇyaṃte dīrghavarma astraṃ vahnipriyāṃtimaḥ | trayoviṃśativarṇātmā śikhāyā baṃdhane manuḥ || 82 ||

Translation

« Kāriṇyaṃte » et « Dīrghavarma » : tel est l’Astra‑mantra ; sa clausule finale est « Vahnipriyāntimaḥ ». Formé de vingt‑trois syllabes, c’est le Manu (formule sacrée) employé pour lier et assurer la śikhā (la mèche du sommet).

Word by Word

• कारिणि-इति-अन्ते: at the end (with the word) ‘kāriṇi’
• कारिणि-इति-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारिणि + इति + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘कारिणि’ इति अन्ते = ending with ‘kāriṇi’)

• दीर्घ-वर्म: ‘Dīrghavarma’ (long-armor; mantra-word/name)
• दीर्घ-वर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ + वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (दीर्घं वर्म)

• अस्त्रम्: ‘Astra’ (weapon; mantra-word)
• अस्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तिमः: ending with ‘vahnipriyā’
• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तिमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि + प्रिय + अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘वह्निप्रिया’ इति अन्तिमः = having ‘vahnipriyā’ as the last)

• त्रयोविंशति-वर्ण-आत्मा: having twenty-three letters
• त्रयोविंशति-वर्ण-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोविंशति + वर्ण + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्रयोविंशतिवर्णः आत्मा यस्य = consisting of 23 syllables/letters)

• शिखायाः: of the śikhā (topknot)
• शिखायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• बन्धने: in tying/binding
• बन्धने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• मनुः: the mantra (manu)
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; ‘मन्त्रः’ इत्यर्थे (mantra-formula)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Śikṣā-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Agni (Vahni)

FAQs

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

It preserves a technical mantra-prayoga: the verse defines an astra-mantra by its opening/closing words and its exact syllable-count, emphasizing disciplined Vedic application where correctness (varṇa, mātrā, and structure) safeguards ritual efficacy.

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

Indirectly: it shows that devotion in the Purāṇic-Vedic framework is supported by precise sacred practice—offering one’s actions to the divine through correctly transmitted mantras and ritual discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-lakṣaṇa: identifying a mantra by its incipit and ending (ādi/anta), and specifying its exact syllable-count (trayoviṃśati-varṇa), along with its ritual use in śikhā-bandhana.