Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

नित्याः षोडश मां पांतु गजारूढाः स्वशक्तिभिः । तथा हयसमारूढाः पांतु मां सर्वतः सदा ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

nityāḥ ṣoḍaśa māṃ pāṃtu gajārūḍhāḥ svaśaktibhiḥ | tathā hayasamārūḍhāḥ pāṃtu māṃ sarvataḥ sadā || 32 ||

Translation

Que les seize Puissances éternelles, montées sur des éléphants et pourvues de leurs propres énergies, me protègent; et de même, que celles montées sur des chevaux me gardent toujours, de tous côtés.

Word by Word

• नित्याः: the eternal (goddesses)
• नित्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशन्/षोडश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या (numeral), प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with नित्याः)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पान्तु: may they protect
• पान्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• गजारूढाः: mounted on elephants
• गजारूढाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ-रुह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: गजे आरूढाः (mounted on elephants)

• स्वशक्तिभिः: with their own powers
• स्वशक्तिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: स्वा शक्तिः (their own powers)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (also/likewise)

• हयसमारूढाः: mounted on horses
• हयसमारूढाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक) + समारूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-आ-रुह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: हये समारूढाः (mounted on horses)

• पान्तु: may they protect
• पान्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, परितः

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक

Speaker

Narada (as a protective prayer/mantra within the Narada Purana’s instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It functions as a rakṣā (protective) invocation, seeking all-direction safeguarding through a structured remembrance of divine forces described as “sixteen eternal” and empowered.

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

Bhakti here appears as śaraṇāgati—taking refuge through prayer—where protection is sought not by personal strength but by invoking higher, divinely empowered guardians.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga style usage—precise phrasing for protective intent (rakṣā), emphasizing directional completeness (sarvataḥ) and continuity (sadā), typical of ritual-technical application.