Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

एकावक्त्रा चतुर्वक्त्रा नवक्त्रा कलानना । पंचविंशतिवक्त्रा च षड्विंशद्वदना तथा ॥ १५३ ॥

Transliteration

ekāvaktrā caturvaktrā navaktrā kalānanā | paṃcaviṃśativaktrā ca ṣaḍviṃśadvadanā tathā || 153 ||

Translation

นางถูกพรรณนาว่ามีหนึ่งพักตร์ สี่พักตร์ เก้าพักตร์ และเป็นรูปแห่งศิลปะทั้งปวง; อีกทั้งมีพักตร์ยี่สิบห้า และมีพักตร์ยี่สิบหกด้วย

Word by Word

• ekā-vaktrā: one-faced
• ekā-vaktrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekā (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समासः (descriptive: 'one-faced')

• catur-vaktrā: four-faced
• catur-vaktrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound: 'four-faced')

• nava-vaktrā: nine-faced
• nava-vaktrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ('nine-faced')

• kalā-ānanā: having a kalā-like face
• kalā-ānanā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'having a face of/like kalā')

• paṃca-viṃśati-vaktrā: twenty-five-faced
• paṃca-viṃśati-vaktrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound: 'twenty-five-faced')

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

• ṣaḍ-viṃśat-vadanā: twenty-six-faced
• ṣaḍ-viṃśat-vadanā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ('twenty-six-faced')

• tathā: thus; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे ('thus/also')

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical enumeration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (the Goddess)

FAQs

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

It presents a technical, contemplative classification of the Goddess’s forms, showing that the Divine can be approached through multiple iconographic and mantra-based manifestations rather than a single fixed image.

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

By listing many forms, it supports bhakti through chosen-form worship (iṣṭa-devatā upāsanā), allowing a devotee to focus devotion on a specific manifestation while recognizing the same Divine reality across forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects the Purāṇic-technical style used in ritual manuals—precise enumerations important for mantra application and iconographic identification, aligning with the practical organization valued in Vedāṅga-oriented study.