Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

निष्कत्रयपदा चेष्टा वादिनी च प्रकीर्तिता । राजलक्ष्मीर्महालक्ष्मीः सिद्धलक्ष्मीर्गवानना ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

niṣkatrayapadā ceṣṭā vādinī ca prakīrtitā | rājalakṣmīrmahālakṣmīḥ siddhalakṣmīrgavānanā || 163 ||

Translation

On la célèbre comme Niṣkatrayapadā, comme Ceṣṭā (l’effort), et comme Vādinī (la parole éloquente). On la connaît aussi sous les noms de Rājalakṣmī (prospérité royale), Mahālakṣmī (la Grande Lakṣmī), Siddhalakṣmī (Lakṣmī de l’accomplissement) et Gavānanā (au visage de vache).

Word by Word

• niṣkatrayapadā: having (the) three steps removed/without the three steps (epithet)
• niṣkatrayapadā: Karta/Viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣ-katraya-pada (प्रातिपदिक; निष् + कत्रय + पद)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (determinative)

• ceṣṭā: activity; effort
• ceṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ceṣṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vādinī: speaker; one who speaks
• vādinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• prakīrtitā: is proclaimed; is declared
• prakīrtitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kīrt (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāja-lakṣmīḥ: royal Lakṣmī
• rāja-lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः लक्ष्मीः)

• mahā-lakṣmīḥ: Mahālakṣmī (great Lakṣmī)
• mahā-lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महती लक्ष्मीः)

• siddha-lakṣmīḥ: Siddhalakṣmī (accomplished Lakṣmī)
• siddha-lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सिद्धा लक्ष्मीः)

• gavānanā: she whose face is like a cow (epithet)
• gavānanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (गवाम् आननं यस्याः सा)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a name-recitation/classificatory passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

The verse lists functional epithets of Lakṣmī—effort (Ceṣṭā), speech (Vādinī), sovereignty (Rājalakṣmī), greatness (Mahālakṣmī), and accomplishment (Siddhalakṣmī)—teaching that prosperity is not merely wealth but a divine power expressing as capability, eloquence, authority, and success.

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

By naming Lakṣmī through multiple aspects, the text models nāma-smaraṇa (devotional recollection through names): devotion recognizes the Lord’s śakti in everyday faculties like effort and speech, and worship integrates inner discipline with outer well-being.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, list-based approach typical of Vedāṅga-style cataloguing: defining a deity through precise epithets (nāma) and functions—useful for correct recitation (śikṣā) and interpretive clarity (nirukta) in ritual or stotra usage.