Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68
The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor
Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma
वह्निसूर्येन्दुभूताह्वा तथात्माष्टाक्षराह्वया । पंचधार्यास्वरूपा च नानाव्रतसमाह्वया ॥ ६८ ॥
vahnisūryendubhūtāhvā tathātmāṣṭākṣarāhvayā | paṃcadhāryāsvarūpā ca nānāvratasamāhvayā || 68 ||
She is designated by the names Fire, Sun, Moon, and the Elements; likewise she is known as the Self (Ātman) and as the eight-syllabled mantra (Aṣṭākṣara). She is also the form called “the five to be borne and observed,” and is spoken of by many names according to the various vows (vratas).
Narada (teaching within a Vedanga/vrata-technical context; dialogue lineage attributed to Narada’s instruction tradition with the Sanatkumara stream in this section)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It explains that a single religious discipline (vrata/observance) can be understood and invoked through multiple sacred designations—cosmic powers (fire, sun, moon, elements), inner reality (Ātman), and mantra-identity (the aṣṭākṣara)—showing a unified sacred framework behind diverse practices.
By highlighting the aṣṭākṣara (commonly ‘oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya’) as a defining name, it points to mantra-centered devotion to Nārāyaṇa as a core way vratas become acts of bhakti rather than mere ritual performance.
The verse reflects technical categorization and nomenclature—how observances are named and grouped (e.g., pañca-dhārya, nānā-vrata)—a practical, śāstra-like method typical of Vedanga-adjacent sections that systematize ritual disciplines and their mantra associations.