Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

मंदस्मितलसद्वक्त्रां दयामंथरवीक्षणाम् । पाशांकुशौ च पुंड्रेक्षुचापं पुष्पशिलीमुखम् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

maṃdasmitalasadvaktrāṃ dayāmaṃtharavīkṣaṇām | pāśāṃkuśau ca puṃḍrekṣucāpaṃ puṣpaśilīmukham || 50 ||

Translation

Ihr Antlitz leuchtet in sanftem Lächeln, und ihr Blick ist durch Mitgefühl mild und weich. In ihren Händen hält sie Schlinge (pāśa) und Haken (aṅkuśa), dazu den Zuckerrohrbogen und Blumenpfeile.

Word by Word

• मन्दस्मितलसद्वक्त्राम्: with a face shining with a gentle smile
• मन्दस्मितलसद्वक्त्राम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द-स्मित-लसत्-वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः मन्दस्मित (कर्मधारय) + लसत् (कृदन्त ‘shining’) + वक्त्र (तत्पुरुष)

• दयामन्थरवीक्षणाम्: with a compassionate, gentle gaze
• दयामन्थरवीक्षणाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया-मन्थर-वीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः दया (instrumental/qualifier) + मन्थर (slow/soft) + वीक्षण (gaze)

• पाश: noose
• पाश: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समुच्चित-युगलनिर्देशे)

• अङ्कुशौ: goad (two items: noose and goad)
• अङ्कुशौ: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, द्विवचन; अत्र पाशेन सह युगल-निर्देशः (two items)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)

• पुण्ड्रेक्षुचापम्: the sugarcane bow
• पुण्ड्रेक्षुचापम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्ड्र-इक्षु-चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः इक्षु-चाप (तत्पुरुष ‘sugarcane-bow’) + पुण्ड्र (विशेषण-तत्पुरुष ‘Pundra/striped’)

• पुष्पशिलीमुखम्: flower-arrows
• पुष्पशिलीमुखम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प-शिलीमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणि एव शिलीमुखाः ‘flower-arrows’)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; descriptive narration of a deity’s iconography)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (compassionate goddess figure)
• Pasha
• Ankusha

FAQs

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

It provides a dhyāna (meditative) portrait: the gentle smile and compassionate gaze signal grace, while the noose and goad indicate mastery over the mind and senses, guiding the devotee toward disciplined devotion.

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

By emphasizing the deity’s compassion and approachable beauty, it supports bhakti through loving contemplation (smaraṇa/dhyāna), where visualizing the form and attributes deepens surrender and steadiness in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge used in worship—dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (iconographic identifiers) that guide correct mantra-based meditation and procedure, aligning practice with śāstric description.