Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

विलिख्य पूर्वं षट्कोणं त्रिकोणत्रितयं ततः । पद्ममष्टदलं बाह्ये भूपुरं तत्र पूजयेत् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

vilikhya pūrvaṃ ṣaṭkoṇaṃ trikoṇatritayaṃ tataḥ | padmamaṣṭadalaṃ bāhye bhūpuraṃ tatra pūjayet || 9 ||

Translation

D’abord, trace un hexagone; puis dessine l’ensemble des trois triangles. À l’extérieur, dessine un lotus à huit pétales, et au-delà le bhūpura, l’enceinte carrée qui l’entoure. Dans ce diagramme, qu’on accomplisse le culte.

Word by Word

• विलिख्य: having drawn
• विलिख्य: Kriyā (अनुषङ्गिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), उपसर्ग: वि-; पूर्वकाल (having drawn/inscribed)

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial use), क्रमवाचक (first/before)

• षट्-कोणम्: a hexagon
• षट्-कोणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical): षट् कोणाः यस्य/षट्कोणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिकोण-त्रितयम्: a triad of triangles
• त्रिकोण-त्रितयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: त्रिकोणानां त्रितयम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• पद्मम्: a lotus (diagram)
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अष्ट-दलम्: eight-petalled
• अष्ट-दलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास: अष्ट दलानि यस्य; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; पद्मम् इति विशेषण

• बाह्ये: on the outside
• बाह्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (locative sense), सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the outer [part])

• भू-पुरम्: the bhūpura (outer enclosure)
• भू-पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: भूमेः पुरम्/भूपुरम् (outer square/earth-enclosure); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (there/in that place)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual/yantra construction in a technical-vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship (pūjā) is to be performed within a properly constructed sacred diagram, where geometric layers (hexagon, triangles, lotus, and bhūpura) create an ordered ritual space for invoking and concentrating the deity’s presence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: devotion is not only emotion but also careful ritual attention—preparing the yantra and then worshipping within it as an act of reverent focus.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual procedure (kalpa-style vidhi) and mandala/yantra construction—practical know-how for drawing prescribed forms (ṣaṭkoṇa, trikoṇas, aṣṭadala padma, bhūpura) as part of worship.