Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

तारो माया श्रीमदकजटे नीलसरस्वती । महोप्रतारे देवासः सनेत्रो गदियुग्मकम् ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

tāro māyā śrīmadakajaṭe nīlasarasvatī | mahopratāre devāsaḥ sanetro gadiyugmakam || 123 ||

Translation

怛罗（Tārā）、摩耶（Māyā）、吉祥之结发者、青色萨拉斯瓦蒂（Nīla-Sarasvatī）、大普拉塔拉（Pratārā）、诸天、“具眼者”（Sa-netra），以及持钺杵之双尊——这些名号与形相正在此处依次列举。

Word by Word

• तारः: Tāra (name)
• तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• माया: Māyā (name/illusion)
• माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रीमद्-अक-जाṭे: O one with matted locks (epithet; reading uncertain)
• श्रीमद्-अक-जाṭे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमद् (प्रातिपदिक) + अक (प्रातिपदिक) + जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा? (Vocative/Nominative), एकवचन; पाठभेद/दुर्लभपद—रूपनिश्चयः संदिग्धः

• नील-सरस्वती: Nīla-Sarasvatī (name)
• नील-सरस्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महो-प्रतारे: O great deceiver/overcomer (epithet)
• महो-प्रतारे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत्/महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; ‘महो’ = ‘महा’ (सम्बोधन-रूप)

• देवासः: the gods
• देवासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स-नेत्रः: having eyes / with eyes
• स-नेत्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (बहुव्रीहि: ‘नेत्रेण सह’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गदि-युग्मकम्: a pair of maces (or ‘gadi’ pair; reading uncertain)
• गदि-युग्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदि/गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; पाठभेद—‘गदियुग्मकम्’

Speaker

Narada (continuing an enumerative teaching within Vedanga/Mantra-vidya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Māyā
• Nīla-Sarasvatī
• Devas

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a sacred enumeration of divine names/forms, emphasizing that remembering and correctly reciting such epithets is itself a discipline of mantra-vidyā within the Vedāṅga-oriented portion of the Purāṇa.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through nāma-smaraṇa—devotion via reverent recollection and recitation of divine names (such as Tārā, Māyā, and Nīla-Sarasvatī), treating the names as direct supports for worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects mantra-prayoga style cataloging—precise preservation of names/epithets used in ritual recitation, where correct phonetics and wording (linked to Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa concerns) are essential for liturgical accuracy.