Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

गोपिकागीतचरितो गोपीनर्तनलालसः । गोपीस्कन्धाश्रितकरो गोपिकाचुंबनप्रियः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

gopikāgītacarito gopīnartanalālasaḥ | gopīskandhāśritakaro gopikācuṃbanapriyaḥ || 71 ||

Translation

Seine Taten werden in den Liedern der Gopīs besungen; er erfreut sich am Tanz mit den Gopīs; seine Hand ruht auf den Schultern der Gopīs; und er liebt es, die Gopīs zu küssen.

Word by Word

• गोपिकागीतचरितः: whose deeds are (celebrated in) the gopīs’ songs
• गोपिकागीतचरितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-गीत-चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपिकानां गीतं चरितं यस्य / गोपिकागीतं चरितं यस्य)

• गोपीनर्तनलालसः: eager for the gopīs’ dance
• गोपीनर्तनलालसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपी-नर्तन-लालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपीनर्तनं प्रति लालसः)

• गोपीस्कन्धाश्रितकरः: whose hand rests on the gopī’s shoulder
• गोपीस्कन्धाश्रितकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपी-स्कन्ध-आश्रित-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपीस्कन्धे आश्रितः करः यस्य)

• गोपिकाचुम्बनप्रियः: fond of kissing the gopīs
• गोपिकाचुम्बनप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-चुम्बन-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपिकाचुम्बनं प्रियं यस्य)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; verse functions as a devotional epithet-description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis

FAQs

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

It presents a vivid stuti of Bhagavan (Krishna) through His intimate Vraja-lila qualities, directing the mind toward loving remembrance (smaraṇa) and devotion (bhakti) rather than abstract speculation.

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

By listing Krishna’s affectionate interactions with the gopīs, it models bhakti as personal, heartfelt attachment expressed through kīrtana (songs), contemplation of līlā, and emotional closeness to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga instruction, it reflects a practical bhakti-application of chandas/alankara-style devotional praise—using structured epithets for recitation and remembrance in worship and kīrtana.