Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

प्रतिमासंयुतं मासं यवनं हृदयं ततः । एकाधशार्णः प्रथमो महाशंखार्चने मनुः ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

pratimāsaṃyutaṃ māsaṃ yavanaṃ hṛdayaṃ tataḥ | ekādhaśārṇaḥ prathamo mahāśaṃkhārcane manuḥ || 96 ||

Translation

പിന്നെ ‘പ്രതിമാസ’യോടു ചേർന്ന ‘മാസ’, തുടർന്ന് ‘യവന’, പിന്നെ ‘ഹൃദയ’—ഇതാണ് മഹാശംഖാർച്ചനയ്ക്കുള്ള ആദ്യ ഏകാദശാക്ഷര മന്ത്രം.

Word by Word

• pratimā-saṃyutam: joined with ‘pratimā’
• pratimā-saṃyutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratimā + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रतिमया संयुक्तम्)

• māsam: (the syllable/mantra) ‘māsa’
• māsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• yavanam: ‘yavana’
• yavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• hṛdayam: heart (hṛdaya-mantra)
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• ekādaśa-arṇaḥ: having eleven syllables
• ekādaśa-arṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु (एकादश अर्णाः/अक्षराणि यस्य)

• prathamaḥ: the first
• prathamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahā-śaṃkha-arcane: in the worship of the great conch
• mahā-śaṃkha-arcane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + śaṃkha + arcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (महाशङ्खस्य अर्चने)

• manuḥ: the mantra-formula (manu)
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Mahashankha

FAQs

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

It codifies a precise mantra-structure for Mahāśaṅkha worship, showing that devotion (upāsanā) is supported by exact mantra-sequencing and syllable discipline (arṇa-count) in the Purāṇic-Vedic ritual tradition.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as regulated worship: the devotee honors the sacred emblem (Mahāśaṅkha) through a defined mantra, indicating that heartfelt devotion is strengthened by correct ritual method rather than left to improvisation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-śāstra style precision—especially syllable-counting (ekādaśārṇa) and ordered mantra-components—reflecting Vedāṅga concerns such as śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (form/combination of terms).