Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

लाकिनी काकिनी चैव राकिनी काकिनी तथा । इच्छाज्ञाना क्रियाख्या चाप्यायुधाष्टकधारिणी ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

lākinī kākinī caiva rākinī kākinī tathā | icchājñānā kriyākhyā cāpyāyudhāṣṭakadhāriṇī || 86 ||

Translation

لاكِني وكاكِني، وكذلك راكِني وكاكِني—تُعرَف هذه الشَّكتيات بأنها إتشّا (الإرادة)، وجْنانا (المعرفة)، وكِريا (الفعل)؛ وقد وُصِفت كلُّ واحدةٍ بأنها تحمل مجموعةً ثُمانيةً من الأسلحة.

Word by Word

• लाकिनी: Lākinī (name)
• लाकिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काकिनी: Kākinī (name)
• काकिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• राकिनी: Rākinī (name)
• राकिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काकिनी: Kākinī (name)
• काकिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (repeated)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• इच्छाज्ञाना: Will-and-knowledge (as a name/epithet)
• इच्छाज्ञाना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (इच्छा च ज्ञानं च = ‘will and knowledge’), समाहार/नामरूपेण एकवचन-प्रयोग

• क्रियाख्या: Called ‘Action’
• क्रियाख्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्रियायाः आख्या = ‘named/known as action’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावनार्थक-अव्यय (particle ‘also/even’)

• आयुधाष्टकधारिणी: Bearer of eight weapons
• आयुधाष्टकधारिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुध + अष्टक + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आयुधानाम् अष्टकं यस्या/येन धार्यते = ‘bearing a set of eight weapons’); घटकाः: आयुध (weapon) + अष्टक (group of eight) + धारिणी (bearer)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lakini
• Kakini
• Rakini
• Shakti (Devi)

FAQs

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

It identifies specific Devī-Śakti forms (Lakini, Kakini, Rakini) with the fundamental inner powers—will, knowledge, and action—showing that spiritual practice involves mastering these śaktis within one’s own subtle body.

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

By naming the śaktis and their attributes (including weapons as protective powers), the verse supports devotional inner-worship: the practitioner reveres the Divine as present within, aligning will, understanding, and conduct as offerings to the Devī.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical yogic/mantric doctrine used in ritual visualization (nyāsa, dhyāna) and inner practice—categorizing powers as icchā–jñāna–kriyā and assigning iconographic markers (eight weapons) for precise meditation.