Shloka 12
The Lord’s Advent: Yoga-māyā’s Mission, Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Transfer, and the Demigods’ Prayers
नामधेयानि कुर्वन्ति स्थानानि च नरा भुवि । दुर्गेति भद्रकालीति विजया वैष्णवीति च ॥ ११ ॥ कुमुदा चण्डिका कृष्णा माधवी कन्यकेति च । माया नारायणीशानी शारदेत्यम्बिकेति च ॥ १२ ॥
nāmadheyāni kurvanti sthānāni ca narā bhuvi durgeti bhadrakālīti vijayā vaiṣṇavīti ca
In various places upon the earth, people will give you many names—Durgā, Bhadrakālī, Vijayā, Vaiṣṇavī; also Kumudā, Caṇḍikā, Kṛṣṇā, Mādhavī, Kanyakā, Māyā, Nārāyaṇī, Īśānī, Śāradā, and Ambikā.
Because Kṛṣṇa and His energy appeared simultaneously, people have generally formed two groups — the śāktas and the Vaiṣṇavas — and sometimes there is rivalry between them. Essentially, those who are interested in material enjoyment are śāktas, and those interested in spiritual salvation and attaining the spiritual kingdom are Vaiṣṇavas. Because people are generally interested in material enjoyment, they are interested in worshiping Māyādevī, the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaiṣṇavas, however, are śuddha-śāktas, or pure bhaktas, because the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra indicates worship of the Supreme Lord’s energy, Harā. A Vaiṣṇava prays to the energy of the Lord for the opportunity to serve the Lord along with His spiritual energy. Thus Vaiṣṇavas all worship such Deities as Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and Rukmiṇī-Dvārakādhīśa, whereas durgā-śāktas worship the material energy under different names.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva lists many names by which people on earth designate and worship the divine feminine power—such as Durgā, Bhadrakālī, Vaiṣṇavī, Nārāyaṇī, and others—establishing shrines and sacred places connected with her.
They are mentioned to describe how the Lord’s divine energy (Yogamāyā) becomes known and worshiped in the world through various epithets and temples, within the broader context of Kṛṣṇa’s birth pastimes and the Lord’s protective arrangements.
A devotee can learn to see the Lord’s energies as purposeful and sacred, respect authentic forms of devotion, and remember that divine protection and guidance may appear through many recognized names and traditions while remaining connected to Nārāyaṇa/Kṛṣṇa at the center.