Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

वीरायुधहरः कालः कालिकेशो महाबलः । वर्वरीषशिरोहारी वर्वरीषशिरःप्रदः ॥ ११६ ॥

Transliteration

vīrāyudhaharaḥ kālaḥ kālikeśo mahābalaḥ | varvarīṣaśirohārī varvarīṣaśiraḥpradaḥ || 116 ||

Translation

Dia adalah Kāla, Sang Waktu yang merampas senjata para pahlawan; Dialah Kālikeśa, Mahakuat—yang mengambil kepala Varvarīṣa dan yang menganugerahkan kepala Varvarīṣa pula.

Word by Word

• वीर-आयुध-हरः: taker of the hero’s weapon
• वीर-आयुध-हरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वीरस्य आयुधं हरति)

• कालः: Time; Death
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कालिक-ईशः: lord of Kālikā
• कालिक-ईशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालिकस्य ईशः)

• महा-बलः: very strong
• महा-बलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् बलम् यस्य)

• वर्वरीष-शिरः-हारी: remover of Varvarīṣa’s head
• वर्वरीष-शिरः-हारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्वरीष (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्वरीषस्य शिरो हरति)

• वर्वरीष-शिरः-प्रदः: giver of Varvarīṣa’s head
• वर्वरीष-शिरः-प्रदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्वरीष (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्वरीषस्य शिरः प्रददाति/प्रयच्छति)

Speaker

Narada (in a names-and-epithets recitation within the dialogue tradition of Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kāla
• Kālikeśa
• Varvarīṣa

FAQs

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

The verse frames the deity as Kāla (Time) who humbles worldly power (“remover of heroes’ weapons”) while also holding the authority to take away and restore—signifying divine sovereignty over life, fate, and karmic outcomes.

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

By praising the Lord through potent epithets, the verse supports bhakti through nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of divine names), cultivating surrender to the power that transcends human strength and reverses misfortune.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, mantra-like use of names (namāvali/stotra style), aligning with Vedanga-oriented disciplines such as correct recitation and linguistic precision (Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa) for effective devotional and protective chanting.