Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

Devanagari script

चक्रमध्ये सुखासीनां स्मेरवक्त्रसरोरुहाम् । शक्तिभिः स्वस्वरूपाभिरावृतां पीतमध्यगाम् ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

cakramadhye sukhāsīnāṃ smeravaktrasaroruhām | śaktibhiḥ svasvarūpābhirāvṛtāṃ pītamadhyagām || 117 ||

Translation

Inmitten des heiligen Cakra saß sie in sanfter Ruhe—ihr Antlitz, einem Lotus gleich, lächelte mild—umgeben von ihren eigenen Śaktis in ihren jeweiligen Gestalten, und ihre Taille schimmerte in goldenem Glanz.

Word by Word

• cakra-madhye: in the middle of the circle
• cakra-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (cakrasya madhye)

• sukha-āsīnām: comfortably seated (ones)
• sukha-āsīnām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + √ās (आस्, धातु) → āsīna (कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; वर्तमानकृदन्त/कृत्: āsīna (past/passive participial adjective ‘seated’), समासः कर्मधारयः (‘comfortably seated’)

• smera-vaktra-saroruhām: having smiling lotus-like faces
• smera-vaktra-saroruhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smera (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक) + saroruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (smeraṃ vaktraṃ yasya/ yāḥ; vaktrasya saroruham = ‘lotus-like face’)

• śaktibhiḥ: by/with powers (śaktis)
• śaktibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• sva-sva-rūpābhiḥ: with their respective own forms
• sva-sva-rūpābhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः कर्मधारयः (‘each one’s own form’)

• āvṛtām: covered/enveloped
• āvṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√vṛ (वृ, धातु) → āvṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘covered/enveloped’

• pīta-madhya-gām: having a yellow middle/waist
• pīta-madhya-gām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + √gam (गम्, धातु) → ga (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘having/going with a yellow middle/waist’), गाम् = स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक (from √gam, ‘going/possessing’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, describing a deity/śakti-vision within a cakra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Cakra (mandala)

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna (meditative visualization) where the deity/Śakti is contemplated at the center of a cakra (mandala), indicating inner worship: the Divine is enthroned in the heart of the ritual-diagram and surrounded by her functional energies.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of loving, focused contemplation—seeing the Divine as serene, auspicious, and approachable—while recognizing that all powers (śaktis) belong to and emanate from the same adored center.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It supports ritual-application knowledge used alongside Vedāṅga practice—especially precise dhyāna in mantra-ritual contexts (e.g., placing the devatā in a cakra/mandala, identifying attendant śaktis by form), which is essential for correct prayoga (procedural performance).