Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

षड्धुरध्वंसकर्ता च निकुंभप्राणहारकः । वज्रनाभपुरध्वंसी पौंड्रकप्राणहारकः ॥ १२४ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍdhuradhvaṃsakartā ca nikuṃbhaprāṇahārakaḥ | vajranābhapuradhvaṃsī pauṃḍrakaprāṇahārakaḥ || 124 ||

Translation

Il est le destructeur de Ṣaḍdhura, le pourfendeur de Nikumbha, le démolisseur de la cité de Vajranābha, et celui qui ôta la vie à Pauṇḍraka.

Word by Word

• ṣaṭ-dhura-dhvaṃsa-kartā: destroyer of the six burdens
• ṣaṭ-dhura-dhvaṃsa-kartā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या) + dhura (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kartṛ (कृदन्त from √kṛ, तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘destroyer of the six burdens/yokes’ (ṣaṭ as numeral qualifier within compound)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• nikuṃbha-prāṇa-hārakaḥ: slayer of Nikuṃbha
• nikuṃbha-prāṇa-hārakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक; proper name) + prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāraka (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √hṛ हरणे, ण्वुल/क)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘life-taker of Nikuṃbha’

• vajra-nābha-pura-dhvaṃsī: destroyer of Vajranābha’s city
• vajra-nābha-pura-dhvaṃsī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra-nābha (प्रातिपदिक; proper name) + pura (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaṃsin (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √dhvaṃs/√dhvaṃs? ‘to destroy’, -in agent)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘destroyer of the city of Vajranābha’

• pauṃḍraka-prāṇa-hārakaḥ: slayer of Pauṇḍraka
• pauṃḍraka-prāṇa-hārakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauṃḍraka (प्रातिपदिक; proper name) + prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāraka (कृदन्त from √hṛ, ण्वुल/क)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘life-taker of Pauṇḍraka’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a litany of Vishnu’s epithets)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Nikumbha
• Vajranabha
• Paundraka
• Sad-dhura

FAQs

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

It presents Vishnu as the decisive protector of dharma—one who removes hostile forces and dismantles strongholds of adharma, making the divine name itself a refuge.

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

Bhakti is expressed through remembering and reciting Vishnu’s deeds and names; the verse turns historical-puranic victories into contemplative praise that strengthens surrender (śaraṇāgati).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa/Chandas awareness in stotra recitation—accurate pronunciation and metrical chanting of names (nāma-pāṭha) is implied as the practical discipline supporting devotional practice.