Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 107

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

दधानां बाहुभिर्वामैः कह्लारं हेमश्रृंगकम् । पुष्पेषुं मातुलिंगं च दधानां दक्षिणैः करैः ॥ १०७ ॥

Transliteration

dadhānāṃ bāhubhirvāmaiḥ kahlāraṃ hemaśrṛṃgakam | puṣpeṣuṃ mātuliṃgaṃ ca dadhānāṃ dakṣiṇaiḥ karaiḥ || 107 ||

Translation

Mit ihren linken Armen trägt Sie den kahlāra-Lotos und ein goldgehörntes Zeichen; mit ihren rechten Händen hält Sie den Blumenpfeil und die Frucht mātuliṅga (Zitronat).

Word by Word

• dadhānām: bearing/holding
• dadhānām: Karta (कर्ता) — describing the agent (she)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhā (धा) धातु; वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘dadhāna’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदी; स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (plural) — agreeing with implied देवीम्/शक्तिम्

• bāhubhiḥ: with (her) arms
• bāhubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) — instrument/means
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (बाहु) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• vāmaiḥ: left
• vāmaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (वाम) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — bāhubhiḥ/karaiḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kahlāram: a blue lotus
• kahlāram: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: kahlāra (कह्लार) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• hemaśrṛṅgakam: a golden horn/pointed ornament
• hemaśrṛṅgakam: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (हेम) + śrṛṅgaka (श्रृंगक) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हेमस्य श्रृंगकम्)

• puṣpeṣum: a flower-arrow
• puṣpeṣum: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (पुष्प) + iṣu (इषु) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पाणाम् इषुः)

• mātuliṅgam: a citron fruit
• mātuliṅgam: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātuliṅga (मातुलिंग) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — coordination
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च) अव्यय
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dadhānām: bearing/holding
• dadhānām: Karta (कर्ता) — describing the agent (she)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhā (धा) धातु; वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘dadhāna’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदी; स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — agreeing with implied देवीम्/शक्तिम्

• dakṣiṇaiḥ: right
• dakṣiṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (दक्षिण) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — karaiḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• karaiḥ: with (her) hands
• karaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) — instrument/means
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (कर) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (in a descriptive, instructional narration within the dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It teaches dhyāna through iconographic precision: the deity’s held symbols are not decorative, but contemplative cues (ālambana) that focus the mind and invoke specific powers—purity (lotus), auspicious splendor (golden emblem), devotional attraction (flower-arrow), and nourishment/blessing (citron).

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

Bhakti is strengthened by concrete remembrance (smaraṇa) and visualization (dhyāna). By meditating on the deity’s attributes as described, a devotee turns attention from distraction to loving, steady worship with a clear mental form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—how accurate form-description supports upāsanā and pūjā procedures (a practical, technical layer often paired with mantra and nyāsa), aligning worship with prescribed lakṣaṇa (defining marks).