Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

दिक्ष्वष्टशक्तयः पूज्याः प्राच्यादिष्वसितप्रभाः । क्षेमंकरी वश्यकरी श्रीकरी च यशस्करी ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

dikṣvaṣṭaśaktayaḥ pūjyāḥ prācyādiṣvasitaprabhāḥ | kṣemaṃkarī vaśyakarī śrīkarī ca yaśaskarī || 22 ||

Translation

Dans les directions, qu’on vénère les huit Śakti—d’un éclat sombre à l’orient et dans les autres quartiers—à savoir : Kṣemaṅkarī (celle qui accorde le bien‑être), Vaśyakarī (celle qui soumet), Śrīkarī (celle qui donne la prospérité) et Yaśaskarī (celle qui donne la renommée).

Word by Word

• dikṣu: in the directions
• dikṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• aṣṭa-śaktayaḥ: the eight powers (Śaktis)
• aṣṭa-śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समासः—‘अष्टौ शक्तयः’

• pūjyāḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कृदन्तः: √pūj (धातु) + यत् (gerundive/तव्यत्-सम) = पूज्य ‘to be worshipped’

• prācy-ādiṣu: in the eastern etc. (directions)
• prācy-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācī (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः तत्पुरुषः—‘प्राच्यादयः (दिशः)’

• asita-prabhāḥ: having dark radiance
• asita-prabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asita (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः—‘असिता प्रभा यस्याः/यासाम्’

• kṣemaṃ-karī: she who brings welfare
• kṣemaṃ-karī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣema (प्रातिपदिक) + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षेमं करोति’

• vaśya-karī: she who makes (others) submissive
• vaśya-karī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक) + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘वश्यं करोति’

• śrī-karī: she who bestows prosperity
• śrī-karī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रियं करोति’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• yaśas-karī: she who grants fame
• yaśas-karī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक) + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘यशः करोति’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Kshemaṅkarī
• Vaśyakarī
• Śrīkarī
• Yaśaskarī

FAQs

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

It frames directional worship (dik-pūjā) as a way to harmonize one’s ritual space by honoring specific Śaktis whose powers are welfare, influence, prosperity, and fame.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence—worshipping divine powers in their ordained places—showing devotion through correct ritual orientation and remembrance of their qualities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge: arranging worship by quarters (a practical ritual science aligned with kalpa-style procedure and directional prescriptions used in Vedic/Smārta rites).