Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

सखायो द्वादशाख्याता हरेः श्रीदामपूर्वकाः । राधिकायाः सुशीलाद्याः सख्यो द्वात्रिंशदीरिताः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

sakhāyo dvādaśākhyātā hareḥ śrīdāmapūrvakāḥ | rādhikāyāḥ suśīlādyāḥ sakhyo dvātriṃśadīritāḥ || 29 ||

Translation

Zwölf Gefährten Haris sind genannt worden, beginnend mit Śrīdāma; und zweiunddreißig Gefährtinnen (sakhīs) Rādhikās sind verkündet worden, beginnend mit Suśīlā.

Word by Word

• सखायः: friends
• सखायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (अव्ययवत्) बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण

• आख्याताः: are declared/named
• आख्याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्या धातु, उपसर्ग आ-; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• श्रीदामपूर्वकाः: beginning with Śrīdāma
• श्रीदामपूर्वकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीदामन् + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रीदामपूर्वकाः = beginning with Śrīdāman); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• राधिकायाः: of Rādhikā
• राधिकायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• सुशीलाद्याः: beginning with Suśīlā
• सुशीलाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुशीला + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुशीलाद्याः = beginning with Suśīlā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सख्यः: female friends
• सख्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• द्वात्रिंशत्: thirty-two
• द्वात्रिंशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वात्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (अव्ययवत्) बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण

• ईरिताः: are stated/mentioned
• ईरिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईरित (कृदन्त; √ईर्/ईर्-प्रेरणे, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purana’s discourse; enumeration style verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Shridama
• Radhika
• Sushila

FAQs

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

It emphasizes smaraṇa (devotional remembrance) by formally enumerating Hari’s companions and Rādhikā’s sakhīs, making their names part of sacred recollection and worshipful narration.

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

Bhakti is supported through hearing and remembering the divine circle of Hari and Rādhikā; the verse models a Purāṇic method where devotion deepens by knowing and reciting the names of the Lord’s intimate associates.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This is primarily a Purāṇic enumeration (list-structure) rather than a Vedāṅga instruction; practically, it reflects disciplined textual organization and name-recitation practices used in pāṭha (recitation) and devotional liturgy.