Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 191

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

दधानां दक्षिणैर्हस्तैः प्रयोगे भीमदर्शनाम् । उपासनेति सौम्यां च सिंहोपरि कृतासनाम् ॥ १९१ ॥

Transliteration

dadhānāṃ dakṣiṇairhastaiḥ prayoge bhīmadarśanām | upāsaneti saumyāṃ ca siṃhopari kṛtāsanām || 191 ||

Translation

Im Prayoga (ritueller Vollzug) soll man sie von furchterregender Gestalt schauen, mit (Attributen/Gesten) in den rechten Händen; doch in der Upāsanā (andächtiger Betrachtung) ist sie sanft—auf einem Löwen als Thron sitzend.

Word by Word

• दधानाम्: bearing/holding
• दधानाम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवीम्)

• दक्षिणैः: with right
• दक्षिणैः: करणविशेषण (Instrument-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (हस्तैः)

• हस्तैः: hands
• हस्तैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रयोगे: in (the aspect of) application/ritual use
• प्रयोगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भीम-दर्शनाम्: of terrifying appearance
• भीम-दर्शनाम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (भीमं दर्शनं यस्याः)

• उपासने: in worship/meditation
• उपासने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपासना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थे (quotative/marker: thus)

• सौम्याम्: gentle/auspicious
• सौम्याम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवीम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• सिंह-उपरि: upon a lion
• सिंह-उपरि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि = अव्यय (adverb/postposition); ‘सिंह’ षष्ठीसम्बन्धेन (on/above a lion)

• कृत-आसनाम्: seated (having made/taken a seat)
• कृत-आसनाम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कृतम् आसनम् यस्याः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching iconographic and ritual distinctions within a technical/vedāṅga-style framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Devi (lion-seated form)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the same deity may be approached in two complementary modes—fearsome for efficacious ritual action (prayoga) and gentle for inner devotion and contemplation (upāsanā).

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

By prescribing a saumya (gentle, auspicious) form for upāsanā, it emphasizes a devotee-friendly visualization that supports steadiness of mind, reverence, and sustained worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge: distinguishing procedural contexts (prayoga vs. upāsanā) and aligning visualization/nyāsa-dhyāna details accordingly—typical of śāstraic ritual manuals used alongside Vedāṅga-informed practice.