Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

ततो ध्यायन्स्वहृदये राधिकां कृष्णभामिनीम् । श्वेतचंपकवर्णाभां कोटिचन्द्रसमप्रभाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tato dhyāyansvahṛdaye rādhikāṃ kṛṣṇabhāminīm | śvetacaṃpakavarṇābhāṃ koṭicandrasamaprabhām || 36 ||

Translation

ثمّ، متأمّلًا في قلبه رادهيكا—حبيبة كريشنا—رآها بلون زهرة التشامباكا البيضاء، متلألئة كضياء عشرة ملايين قمر.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: then/thereafter)

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (masc. nom. sg.)

• स्व-हृदये: in (his) own heart
• स्व-हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वहृदय (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + हृदय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (neut. loc. sg.)

• राधिकाम्: Rādhikā
• राधिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• कृष्ण-भामिनीम्: the beloved of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण-भामिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्णभामिनी (प्रातिपदिक; कृष्ण + भामिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• श्वेत-चम्पक-वर्ण-आभाम्: having the hue of a white campaka flower
• श्वेत-चम्पक-वर्ण-आभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभा (प्रातिपदिक; श्वेत + चम्पक + वर्ण + आभा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• कोटि-चन्द्र-सम-प्रभाम्: with radiance equal to ten million moons
• कोटि-चन्द्र-सम-प्रभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटिचन्द्रसमप्रभा (प्रातिपदिक; कोटि + चन्द्र + सम + प्रभा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Radhika
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It highlights heart-centered dhyāna: the deity is contemplated inwardly, and divine beauty (radiance like countless moons) symbolizes purified awareness and intense bhakti.

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

Bhakti is shown as intimate remembrance—meditating on Rādhikā as Kṛṣṇa’s beloved—where loving visualization (smaraṇa/dhyāna) becomes a direct mode of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse supports upāsanā-prayoga (practical worship) through disciplined dhyāna; while not a technical rule of Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa, it reflects the applied spiritual discipline that accompanies mantra and ritual focus.