Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

महाकालरतासक्तां ध्यात्वांगान्यर्चयेत्पुरा । कालीं कपालिनीं कुल्लां कुरुकुल्लां विरोधिनीम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

mahākālaratāsaktāṃ dhyātvāṃgānyarcayetpurā | kālīṃ kapālinīṃ kullāṃ kurukullāṃ virodhinīm || 12 ||

Translation

先当观想那位深情依恋大时（Mahākāla）之女神；继而礼拜其诸支分（aṅga，辅相）。当以迦梨（Kālī）、持髑髅者（Kapālinī）、Kullā、Kurukullā 与 Virodhinī之名而供奉。

Word by Word

• महाकाल-रता-आसक्ताम्: attached to delight in Mahākāla
• महाकाल-रता-आसक्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक) + रता (प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: महाकाले रता (locative sense) तस्याम् आसक्ता; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (देवीम्) विशेषण

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriyā (अनुषङ्गिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरा: beforehand
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (formerly/first/beforehand)

• कालीम्: Kālī
• कालीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कपालिनीम्: Kapālinī
• कपालिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालीम् इति समानाधिकरण/विशेषणभावे

• कुल्लाम्: Kullā
• कुल्लाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल्ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुरुकुल्लाम्: Kurukullā
• कुरुकुल्लाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल्ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नामसमास): कुरु-सम्बद्धा कुल्ला; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विरोधिनीम्: Virodhinī
• विरोधिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोधिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (देवी-नाम)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahākāla
• Kālī
• Kapālinī
• Kullā
• Kurukullā
• Virodhinī

FAQs

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

It emphasizes correct ritual sequence: dhyāna (inner visualization) first, then aṅga-arcana (structured worship of auxiliary aspects), presenting multiple Śakti-names as valid contemplative and worshipful forms.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused devotion through meditation and reverential worship of the Goddess in her distinct epithets, showing that devotion can be practiced through disciplined ritual attention and sacred naming.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis: the procedural rule of doing dhyāna prior to arcana, and the use of aṅgas (auxiliary components) reflects technical liturgical organization akin to kalpa-style method (prayoga/vidhi) within Narada Purana’s applied sacred sciences.