Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

रत्नपूर्णं तु चषकं लुंगीं व्याख्यानमुद्रिकाम् । दधानां दक्षिणैर्वामैः पुस्तकं चारुणोत्पलम् ॥ १५४ ॥

Transliteration

ratnapūrṇaṃ tu caṣakaṃ luṃgīṃ vyākhyānamudrikām | dadhānāṃ dakṣiṇairvāmaiḥ pustakaṃ cāruṇotpalam || 154 ||

Translation

In ihren rechten Händen hält sie einen mit Juwelen gefüllten Becher, ein kleines Säckchen und die Mudrā der Darlegung (Lehre); in ihren linken Händen hält sie ein Buch und einen schönen Lotus.

Word by Word

• रत्न-पूर्णम्: filled with jewels
• रत्न-पूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √पॄ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (रत्नैः पूर्णम्)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (contrast/emphasis)

• चषकम्: a cup, bowl
• चषकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लुङ्गीम्: a cloth/garment (luṅgī)
• लुङ्गीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याख्यान-मुद्रिकाम्: a signet/ring of exposition (teaching-gesture ring)
• व्याख्यान-मुद्रिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याख्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (व्याख्यानस्य मुद्रिका)

• दधानाम्: holding, bearing
• दधानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दधत् (कृदन्त; √धा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) विशेषणम्—‘धारयन्तीम्’

• दक्षिणैः: with right (hands)
• दक्षिणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (करत्वे)

• वामैः: with left (hands)
• वामैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (करत्वे)

• पुस्तकम्: a book
• पुस्तकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधकः अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• आरुण-उत्पलम्: a reddish lotus
• आरुण-उत्पलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (आरुणम् उत्पलम्)

Speaker

Narada (describing a deity/iconographic form in instructional mode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• (Devi) (implied goddess-form)
• Pustaka (scripture/book)
• Utpala (lotus)

FAQs

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

The verse encodes a meditative (upāsanā) description: jewels and a cup signify auspicious abundance, the lotus purity and divine beauty, and the book with the teaching-mudrā indicates sacred knowledge transmitted through śāstra and instruction.

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

By giving concrete attributes for visualization and reverence, it supports bhakti through form-based worship (saguṇa-upāsanā), where the devotee contemplates the deity as the source of both prosperity and liberating knowledge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects śāstra-based upāsanā and technical description (lakṣaṇa) used in ritual practice—recognizing mudrā (gesture), held emblems, and their meanings—an applied, instructional style aligned with Vedāṅga-oriented disciplines.