Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

मायाद्वयं ततः पश्चाद्दक्षिणे कालिके पदम् । पुनश्च सप्तबीजानि स्वाहांतोऽयं मनूत्तमः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

māyādvayaṃ tataḥ paścāddakṣiṇe kālike padam | punaśca saptabījāni svāhāṃto'yaṃ manūttamaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ‘മായാ’ എന്ന രണ്ട് അക്ഷരങ്ങൾ സ്ഥാപിക്കുക; പിന്നെ വലതുവശത്ത് ‘കാലികാ’ പദം വെക്കുക. വീണ്ടും ഏഴ് ബീജാക്ഷരങ്ങൾ ചേർക്കുക—ഈ ഉത്തമ മന്ത്രം ‘സ്വാഹാ’യിൽ സമാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• माया-द्वयम्: the pair of ‘māyā’ syllables
• माया-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मायायाः द्वयम्)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमसूचक (from that/thereafter)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (afterwards)

• दक्षिणे: on the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (on the right)

• कालिके: in/at (the place of) Kālīkā
• कालिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; सम्बद्ध-अधिकरण (in/at Kālīkā)

• पदम्: the word/term (pada)
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सप्त-बीजानि: the seven seed-syllables
• सप्त-बीजानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त संख्या-पूर्वक)

• स्वाहा-अन्तः: ending with ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहा-अन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वाहायाः अन्तः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मनु-उत्तमः: the best mantra (lit. best ‘manu’)
• मनु-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः मनुः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on mantra-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kali/Kalika

FAQs

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

It teaches precise mantra-structure: the power is conveyed not only by devotion but also by correct placement of mantra-units (pada) and seed syllables (bīja), culminating in the oblation-ending “svāhā,” indicating ritual completion and offering.

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

Bhakti here takes a disciplined form: reverence is expressed through exact recitation and ordered construction of the deity-mantra (Kālikā), showing that devotion in the Purana often works together with properly learned ritual method.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-vyavasthā (technical arrangement of syllables) akin to Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) and ritual procedure—how specific mantra-components (bīja, pada, svāhā) are sequenced for effective japa and homa.