Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 137

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

घस्मरा विश्वकवला लोलाक्षी लोलजिह्विका । सर्वभक्षा सहस्राक्षी निःसंगा च गतिप्रिया ॥ १३७ ॥

Transliteration

ghasmarā viśvakavalā lolākṣī lolajihvikā | sarvabhakṣā sahasrākṣī niḥsaṃgā ca gatipriyā || 137 ||

Translation

Elle est vorace, engloutissant l’univers tout entier; ses yeux errent sans repos et sa langue frémit. Dévorant tout, aux mille yeux, sans attache, et aimant l’élan sans fin : telle est-elle.

Word by Word

• घस्मरा: voracious, devouring
• घस्मरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घस्मर (प्रातिपदिक; घस्-धातु से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विश्वकवला: swallower of the universe
• विश्वकवला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + कवला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विश्वं कवलयति/विश्वकवला)

• लोलाक्षी: with restless eyes
• लोलाक्षी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोल + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (लोले अक्षिणी यस्याः)

• लोलजिह्विका: with a restless tongue
• लोलजिह्विका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोल + जिह्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (लोला जिह्विका यस्याः)

• सर्वभक्षा: eater of all
• सर्वभक्षा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं भक्षयति/सर्वभक्षा)

• सहस्राक्षी: thousand-eyed
• सहस्राक्षी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्याः सा)

• निःसङ्गा: detached, unattached
• निःसङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-समासः (निःसङ्गा = असङ्गा)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गतिप्रिया: fond of movement/speed
• गतिप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गति + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गतेः प्रिया/गतिं प्रिया)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the all-consuming, ever-moving power of Time (Kāla) as a cosmic force that devours all conditioned existence, urging the seeker toward detachment (niḥsaṅga) and liberation-focused discernment.

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

By emphasizing that everything worldly is swallowed by Time, it indirectly points the devotee to take shelter in the timeless Lord (commonly understood as Vishnu/Narayana in Narada Purana), making bhakti a stable refuge amid impermanence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct rule of Shiksha or Vyakarana, the verse uses precise epithets and compact compounds (e.g., viśvakavalā) typical of technical Sanskrit expression—supporting Vedanga-style learning through disciplined comprehension of semantics and poetic diction.