Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 118

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

बिडालाक्षा बिडालास्या कुमारी खेचरी भवा । मयूरा मंगला भीमा द्विपवक्त्रा खरानना ॥ ११८ ॥

Transliteration

biḍālākṣā biḍālāsyā kumārī khecarī bhavā | mayūrā maṃgalā bhīmā dvipavaktrā kharānanā || 118 ||

Translation

(Elle est) aux yeux de chatte, au visage de chatte; la Vierge jeune fille; celle qui parcourt le ciel, Bhavā; pareille au paon; de bon augure; terrifiante; à deux visages; et au visage d’âne.

Word by Word

• बिडालाक्षा: cat-eyed
• बिडालाक्षा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिडाल-अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (biḍālasya akṣi → biḍālākṣā)

• बिडालास्या: cat-faced
• बिडालास्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिडाल-आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (biḍālasya āsyam → biḍālāsyā)

• कुमारी: maiden; virgin girl
• कुमारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारि/कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खेचरी: sky-goer; one who moves in the air
• खेचरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचरि/खेचरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवा: becoming; existent (as an epithet)
• भवा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (भव-शब्दः ‘becoming/being’ इत्यर्थे, नामरूपेण)

• मयूरा: peacock-like; peacock (as epithet)
• मयूरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मंगला: auspicious
• मंगला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भीमा: terrible; formidable
• भीमा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विपवक्त्रा: elephant-faced
• द्विपवक्त्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विप-वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dvipasya vaktram → dvipavaktrā)

• खरानना: donkey-faced
• खरानना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खर-आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kharasya ānanam → kharānanā)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an enumerative/technical listing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kumari
• Khecari
• Bhava

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a litany of epithets—names that encode distinct aspects (benign, fierce, and liminal/otherworldly) of a Devi-power, used for remembrance and mantra-oriented contemplation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through nāma-smaraṇa: devotion by reverently reciting and meditating on divine names and forms, accepting both auspicious and formidable aspects as sacred.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a technical, list-based (anukrama/kośa-like) approach typical of Vedanga-adjacent usage—supporting correct mantra recitation, memorization, and precise identification of deity-forms through standardized epithets.