Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

यथा लक्ष्मीमुखानां तु अवताराः प्रकीर्तिताः । तथा राधावताराणां श्रोतुमिच्छामि वैभवम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

yathā lakṣmīmukhānāṃ tu avatārāḥ prakīrtitāḥ | tathā rādhāvatārāṇāṃ śrotumicchāmi vaibhavam || 4 ||

Translation

So wie die Inkarnationen Lakṣmīs und der anderen göttlichen Gefährtinnen verkündet wurden, so wünsche auch ich, die Herrlichkeit und Majestät der Inkarnationen Rādhas zu vernehmen.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable; ‘as/just as’)

• लक्ष्मी-मुखानाम्: of (those) beginning with Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मी-मुखानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (neuter genitive plural; ‘beginning with Lakṣmī’)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• अवताराः: incarnations
• अवताराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (masculine nominative plural)

• प्रकीर्तिताः: have been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिताः: क्रिया (Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (past passive participle; ‘have been proclaimed’)

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूप (indeclinable; ‘so/in the same way’)

• राधा-अवताराणाम्: of Rādhā’s incarnations
• राधा-अवताराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (masculine genitive plural)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रोतुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय; infinitive)
• Form: तुमुन्-अव्ययकृदन्त (infinitive; purpose)

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• वैभवम्: glory, greatness
• वैभवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Radha

FAQs

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

The verse frames Rādhā’s manifestations as worthy of the same reverent hearing given to Lakṣmī’s avatāras, emphasizing śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a means to access divine vaibhava (spiritual majesty).

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

It models bhakti through eagerness to hear sacred accounts: by requesting narration of Rādhā’s avatāras, the speaker prioritizes śravaṇa as a direct devotional practice that deepens reverence for the divine feminine in Vaiṣṇava theology.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a narrative prompt (prasthāvanā) guiding the next doctrinal exposition, rather than detailing grammar, astrology, or ritual procedure.