Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā
Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained
शैब्या वृन्दा श्रीधराख्या सर्वास्तुत्तुल्यविग्रहाः । सुशीलाप्रमुखा श्चान्याः सख्यो द्वात्रिंशदीरिताः ॥ ११ ॥
śaibyā vṛndā śrīdharākhyā sarvāstuttulyavigrahāḥ | suśīlāpramukhā ścānyāḥ sakhyo dvātriṃśadīritāḥ || 11 ||
Śaibyā, Vṛndā und die als Śrīdharā bekannte—zusammen mit allen anderen von gleichermaßen vortrefflicher Gestalt, wie Suśīlā und die übrigen—werden als zweiunddreißig Gefährtinnen (Sakhīs) bezeichnet.
Sage Nārada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumāra tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It sanctifies remembrance through precise naming and counting—presenting a revered list of thirty-two sakhīs, a common Purāṇic method for devotional recollection (smaraṇa) and liturgical recitation.
Bhakti is supported here through nāma-smaraṇa and guṇa-kīrtana: the companions are described as equally praiseworthy in form, encouraging reverent contemplation and recitation of sacred names as an act of devotion.
The verse reflects the Purāṇic-anukramaṇī style of structured cataloguing (useful for ritual recitation and textual organization), aligning with technical disciplines that preserve correct lists, counts, and name-forms.