Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

आकर्षणी च विख्याता तथैवावे शकारिणी । उन्मादिनी महापूर्वा कुशाथो खेचरी मता ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

ākarṣaṇī ca vikhyātā tathaivāve śakāriṇī | unmādinī mahāpūrvā kuśātho khecarī matā || 47 ||

Translation

Also renowned is Ākarṣaṇī, the power of attraction, and likewise Āveśakāriṇī, which induces possession or overpowering influence. There are Unmādinī, which causes frenzy, the most ancient Mahāpūrvā, Kuśāthā, and Khecarī—so it is held.

Word by Word

• आकर्षणी: Ākarṣaṇī (the attractor; name)
• आकर्षणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + कृश्/कर्ष् (धातु) → आकर्षणी (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-नाम (attractor; drawing)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विख्याता: well-known
• विख्याता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ख्या (धातु) → विख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• आवेशकारिणी: Āveśakāriṇī (causing possession/entrance; name)
• आवेशकारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवेश (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आवेशं करोति’ (causes possession/entrance)

• उन्मादिनी: Unmādinī (the maddener; name)
• उन्मादिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्मादिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महापूर्वा: great/very ancient; greatly preceding
• महापूर्वा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुशाथः: Kuśātha (name)
• कुशाथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठभेद: कुशाथो इति)

• खेचरी: Khecarī (sky-goer; name)
• खेचरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खे (ख = आकाश, प्रातिपदिक) + चरी (चर् धातु → कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘खे चरति’ (moves in the sky)

• मता: is considered/held to be
• मता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively = ‘is considered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It catalogues specific mantra-vidyās/siddhi-nāmas (powers) recognized in the tradition, implying that such attainments exist but belong to the technical domain of mantra-yoga and must be approached under dharmic restraint rather than mere display.

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

Indirectly: by listing worldly/occult attainments, it frames them as secondary knowledge within the Purāṇic teaching environment, where higher orientation is typically toward sattva, self-control, and ultimately devotion to the Supreme—rather than fascination with powers.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra style technical classification—naming and distinguishing operative vidyās (e.g., attraction, possession/entrancement, khecarī), a feature of applied Vedic sciences associated with disciplined recitation, procedure, and correct phonetics (Śikṣā) in practice.