Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

वश्या चला बलाका च भूधरा कल्मषाभिधा । धात्री च कलना कालकर्षिणी भ्रामिकापि च ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

vaśyā calā balākā ca bhūdharā kalmaṣābhidhā | dhātrī ca kalanā kālakarṣiṇī bhrāmikāpi ca || 91 ||

Translation

« (On l’appelle) Vashyā, Chalā, Balākā, Bhūdharā, et aussi Kalmaṣābhidhā ; de même Dhātrī, Kalanā, Kālakārṣiṇī, et encore Bhrāmikā. »

Word by Word

• vaśyā: Vaśyā (the subjugating one)
• vaśyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśyā (प्रातिपदिक; from vaś धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• calā: Calā (the moving one)
• calā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: calā (प्रातिपदिक; from cal धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• balākā: Balākā (crane/heron; name)
• balākā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• bhū-dharā: Bhūdharā (earth-bearer)
• bhū-dharā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū + dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (karmadhāraya-like: ‘भूṃ धरति’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• kalmaṣa-abhidhā: Kalmaṣābhidhā (named ‘Kalmaṣā’)
• kalmaṣa-abhidhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalmaṣa + abhidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘कल्मषा अभिधा यस्याः/या’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular (used as epithet/name)

• dhātrī: Dhātrī (the supporter/nourisher)
• dhātrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātrī (प्रातिपदिक; from dhṛ धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• kalanā: Kalanā (the measurer/arranger)
• kalanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalanā (प्रातिपदिक; from kal धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• kāla-karṣiṇī: Kālakārṣiṇī (time-drawing/attracting)
• kāla-karṣiṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + karṣiṇī (प्रातिपदिक; karṣ from kṛṣ धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘कालं कर्षति’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• bhrāmikā: Bhrāmikā (the whirling one)
• bhrāmikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrāmikā (प्रातिपदिक; from bhram धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; feminine, nominative singular

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; technical listing style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a sacred name-list (nāma/saṃjñā) style enumeration: contemplating such epithets is used to cultivate smṛti (recollection) and to connect technical Vedic language with devotional remembrance.

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

While not directly prescribing a bhakti practice, it supports bhakti through nāma-smaraṇa: understanding and reciting meaningful epithets is treated in Purāṇic tradition as an aid to focused remembrance and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-aligned lexical/semantic work (nirukta/nighaṇṭu and vyākaraṇa-oriented analysis): multiple synonyms/epithets are listed, inviting interpretation of roots and contextual meanings.