Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

मेधा प्रज्ञा प्रभा विद्या धीवृत्तिस्मृतिबुद्धयः । विश्वेश्वरीति संप्रोक्ताः पीठस्य नव शक्तयः ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

medhā prajñā prabhā vidyā dhīvṛttismṛtibuddhayaḥ | viśveśvarīti saṃproktāḥ pīṭhasya nava śaktayaḥ || 73 ||

Translation

梅陀（持忆之慧）、般若（辨别之智）、普罗婆（光辉）、毗提耶（知识）、提（理解）、弗哩底（心之作用）、斯摩哩底（忆念）、与布提（理智）——此等被宣说为圣座（Pīṭha）的九种神力（śakti），合称为“毗湿维湿瓦丽”（Viśveśvarī）。

Word by Word

• मेधा: intelligence, wisdom
• मेधा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रज्ञा: higher knowledge, discernment
• प्रज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभा: radiance
• प्रभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विद्या: knowledge, learning
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धी-वृत्ति-स्मृति-बुद्धयः: intellect, mental function, memory, understanding
• धी-वृत्ति-स्मृति-बुद्धयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धी (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• विश्वेश्वरी: Lady of the universe
• विश्वेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व-ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘विश्वस्य ईश्वरी’

• इति: thus, as
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• संप्रोक्ताः: are declared/said
• संप्रोक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+वच् (धातु) → संप्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘(ते) संप्रोक्ताः’ = have been declared

• पीठस्य: of the pīṭha (seat/sacred pedestal)
• पीठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with शक्तयः)

• शक्तयः: powers, śaktis
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Viśveśvarī
• Pīṭha
• Śakti

FAQs

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

It frames core cognitive faculties—memory, discernment, understanding, and knowledge—as divine śaktis, implying that spiritual learning and inner clarity arise from honoring and cultivating these sacred powers (Viśveśvarī) seated in the pīṭha.

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

By treating intelligence, memory, and discernment as śaktis, the verse supports bhakti as an informed, steady practice: remembrance (smṛti) of the Divine, clear understanding (dhī/buddhi), and true knowledge (vidyā) stabilize devotion and prevent distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the inner instruments needed for Vedāṅga-based study and practice—especially medhā (retention), prajñā (discernment), and smṛti (memory)—which underpin correct learning, recitation, and application of technical disciplines.