Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

आकर्षणी च विख्याता तथैवावे शकारिणी । उन्मादिनी महापूर्वा कुशाथो खेचरी मता ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

ākarṣaṇī ca vikhyātā tathaivāve śakāriṇī | unmādinī mahāpūrvā kuśātho khecarī matā || 47 ||

Translation

Juga termasyhur Ākarṣaṇī (daya penarik); demikian pula Āveśakāriṇī (yang menimbulkan kerasukan atau pengaruh yang mengatasi). Ada pula Unmādinī (yang menyebabkan kegilaan), Mahāpūrvā yang amat purba, Kuśāthā, dan Khecarī—demikianlah yang dipegang.

Word by Word

• आकर्षणी: Ākarṣaṇī (the attractor; name)
• आकर्षणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + कृश्/कर्ष् (धातु) → आकर्षणी (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-नाम (attractor; drawing)

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

• विख्याता: well-known
• विख्याता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ख्या (धातु) → विख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• आवेशकारिणी: Āveśakāriṇī (causing possession/entrance; name)
• आवेशकारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवेश (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आवेशं करोति’ (causes possession/entrance)

• उन्मादिनी: Unmādinī (the maddener; name)
• उन्मादिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्मादिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महापूर्वा: great/very ancient; greatly preceding
• महापूर्वा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुशाथः: Kuśātha (name)
• कुशाथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठभेद: कुशाथो इति)

• खेचरी: Khecarī (sky-goer; name)
• खेचरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खे (ख = आकाश, प्रातिपदिक) + चरी (चर् धातु → कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘खे चरति’ (moves in the sky)

• मता: is considered/held to be
• मता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively = ‘is considered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It catalogues specific mantra-vidyās/siddhi-nāmas (powers) recognized in the tradition, implying that such attainments exist but belong to the technical domain of mantra-yoga and must be approached under dharmic restraint rather than mere display.

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

Indirectly: by listing worldly/occult attainments, it frames them as secondary knowledge within the Purāṇic teaching environment, where higher orientation is typically toward sattva, self-control, and ultimately devotion to the Supreme—rather than fascination with powers.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra style technical classification—naming and distinguishing operative vidyās (e.g., attraction, possession/entrancement, khecarī), a feature of applied Vedic sciences associated with disciplined recitation, procedure, and correct phonetics (Śikṣā) in practice.