Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

गजाश्वद्वीपिपंचास्यतार्क्ष्यारूढाखिलायुधाः । असंख्याः शक्तयो देव्यः पांतु मां सर्वतः सदा ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

gajāśvadvīpipaṃcāsyatārkṣyārūḍhākhilāyudhāḥ | asaṃkhyāḥ śaktayo devyaḥ pāṃtu māṃ sarvataḥ sadā || 36 ||

Translation

愿无量诸女神之力（Śakti）——乘象、乘马、乘豹、现狮面之相、乘迦楼罗，执持一切兵器——恒常从四方护佑我。

Word by Word

• gaja-aśva-dvīpi-paṃcāsya-tārkṣya-ārūḍha-akhila-āyudhāḥ: (goddesses) mounted on elephant/horse/leopard/five-faced mount/Garuḍa, bearing all weapons
• gaja-aśva-dvīpi-paṃcāsya-tārkṣya-ārūḍha-akhila-āyudhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + dvīpin (द्वीपिन्, प्रातिपदिक) + paṃcāsya (पञ्चास्य, प्रातिपदिक) + tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + ārūḍha (कृदन्त, √ruh/रुह्) + akhila (अखिल, प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (आयुध, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); बहुव्रीहि—‘those whose mounts are elephant/horse/leopard/five-faced (lion?) /Garuḍa and whose weapons are complete/all’; ārūḍha = क्त-कृदन्त used within compound

• asaṃkhyāḥ: countless
• asaṃkhyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asaṃkhyā (असंख्या, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• śaktayaḥ: powers/energies
• śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (शक्ति, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• devyaḥ: goddesses
• devyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (देवी, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); apposition to ‘śaktayaḥ’

• pāntu: may (they) protect
• pāntu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा, धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun); Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sarvataḥ: from all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/‘from all sides’)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (सर्वतस्, अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (सदा, अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (always)

Speaker

Narada (in a protective/prayer formula within the technical-religious instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Devyaḥ/Śaktayaḥ)
• Garuḍa (Tārkṣya)

FAQs

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

It functions as a rakṣā-prārthanā (protective prayer), invoking innumerable forms of divine Śakti as all-direction guardians, emphasizing total protection (sarvataḥ) and continuity (sadā).

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

Bhakti here appears as śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge through remembrance and invocation of the Divine Powers, trusting their guardianship rather than one’s own strength.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Its practical value is liturgical: a mantra-like protective formula suited for recitation within ritual frameworks; it reflects disciplined mantra-prayoga (application) used alongside śikṣā-style correct chanting and ritual procedure.