Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

वागीशी वरदा विश्वा विभवाविघ्नकारिणी । बीजविघ्नहरा विद्या सुमुखी सुंदरी तथा ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

vāgīśī varadā viśvā vibhavāvighnakāriṇī | bījavighnaharā vidyā sumukhī suṃdarī tathā || 97 ||

Translation

Elle est Vāgīśī, souveraine de la parole ; Varadā, dispensatrice de grâces ; Viśvā, l’omniprésente. Elle accorde la prospérité et écarte les obstacles. Elle détruit les entraves dès leur germe, elle est Vidyā, la connaissance véritable, et elle est aussi Sumukhī, au visage gracieux, et Sundarī, la belle.

Word by Word

• vāk-īśī: Vāgīśī (goddess of speech)
• vāk-īśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + īśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa ‘vācaḥ īśī’ (mistress of speech)

• varadā: boon-giving
• varadā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara-dā (प्रातिपदिक; √dā/दा ‘to give’)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa ‘varaṃ dadāti’ (giver of boons)

• viśvā: universal; all-pervading
• viśvā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• vibhava-avighna-kāriṇī: maker of prosperity without obstacles
• vibhava-avighna-kāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + a-vighna (प्रातिपदिक) + kāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक; from √kṛ/कृ ‘to do’)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa: ‘vibhavasya avighnaṃ karoti’ / ‘vibhavaṃ avighnaṃ karoti’ (one who makes prosperity unobstructed)

• bīja-vighna-harā: remover of root obstacles
• bīja-vighna-harā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक) + vighna (प्रातिपदिक) + harā (प्रातिपदिक; from √hṛ/हृ ‘to take away’)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘bījasya vighnaṃ harati’ (remover of obstacles at the root/seed)

• vidyā: knowledge; Vidyā (name)
• vidyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• su-mukhī: beautiful-faced
• su-mukhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + mukhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘sundaraṃ mukhaṃ yasyāḥ’ / ‘su-mukhī’ (good-faced)

• suṃdarī: beautiful
• suṃdarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sundarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (तथा/‘likewise’)

Speaker

Narada (stotra-style enumeration within the Vedanga/vidya context, traditionally recited as praise of the presiding goddess of learning and speech)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vidyā (as Devi/presiding power of knowledge)
• Vāk (speech principle)

FAQs

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

It praises the presiding power of knowledge and speech as the force that grants boons, prosperity, and—most importantly—removes obstacles from their very root, indicating that true vidyā is both auspicious and protective on the spiritual path.

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

By naming and venerating the divine qualities of Vidyā/Vāk, the verse models bhakti through stuti (praise): devotion expressed as remembrance of divine attributes that support sādhana by clearing vighnas and steadying the mind in learning and practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds Vāk (speech) and Vidyā (learning), aligning with Vedanga concerns like Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar), where purity of speech and correct articulation are essential, and vighna-śānti is sought for uninterrupted study and mantra-prayoga.