Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

कांचीनूपुरहारकंकणलसत्केयूरभूषान्वितं गोपीनां द्वितयां तरे सुललितं वन्यप्रसूनस्रजम् । अन्योन्यं विनिबद्धगोपदयितादोर्वल्लिवीतं लसद्रासक्रीडनलोलुपं मनसिजाक्रांतं मुकुन्दं भवेत् ॥ १११ ॥

Transliteration

kāṃcīnūpurahārakaṃkaṇalasatkeyūrabhūṣānvitaṃ gopīnāṃ dvitayāṃ tare sulalitaṃ vanyaprasūnasrajam | anyonyaṃ vinibaddhagopadayitādorvallivītaṃ lasadrāsakrīḍanalolupaṃ manasijākrāṃtaṃ mukundaṃ bhavet || 111 ||

Translation

May Mukunda dwell within the heart—adorned with waist-belt, anklets, necklace, bracelets, and shining armlets; exquisitely graceful between two gopīs; wearing a garland of wild flowers; entwined by the vine-like arms of the cowherd maidens as they clasp one another; eager for the radiant rāsa-dance; and overcome by the power of love.

Word by Word

• kāṃcī-nūpura-hāra-kaṃkaṇa-lasat-keyūra-bhūṣā-anvitam: endowed with ornaments—girdle, anklets, garland, bracelets, shining armlets, adornments
• kāṃcī-nūpura-hāra-kaṃkaṇa-lasat-keyūra-bhūṣā-anvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāṃcī (प्रातिपदिक) + nūpura (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṃkaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + lasat (कृदन्त; √las लस्) + keyūra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त; √i/√anv-i अन्वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः; ‘अन्वित’ (PPP) = endowed/possessed; qualifies ‘mukundam’

• gopīnām: of the gopīs
• gopīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• dvitayām: a pair (two)
• dvitayām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvitaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• tare: O Tārā (address)
• tare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन (काव्ये सम्बोधनार्थे)

• su-lalitam: very graceful
• su-lalitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + lalita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘सु’ = very/well

• vanya-prasūna-srajam: a garland of wild forest-flowers
• vanya-prasūna-srajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanya (प्रातिपदिक) + prasūna (प्रातिपदिक) + sraj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘वन्यप्रसून’ = forest-flowers; sraj = garland

• anyonyaṃ: mutually
• anyonyaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थे)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्परम् (reciprocally)

• vinibaddha-gopadayitā-dor-vallivītam: encircled by creeper-like arms of gopīs (beloveds) bound to each other
• vinibaddha-gopadayitā-dor-vallivītam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinibaddha (कृदन्त; √bandh बन्ध्) + gopī-dayitā (प्रातिपदिक; gopī + dayitā) + dor (प्रातिपदिक; doḥ) + vallī (प्रातिपदिक) + vīta (कृदन्त; √ve/√vī वी)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; PPP ‘vinibaddha’ = bound; ‘vīta’ = wrapped/encircled; qualifies ‘mukundam’

• lasat-rāsa-krīḍana-lolupam: eager for the shining rāsa-dance play
• lasat-rāsa-krīḍana-lolupam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lasat (कृदन्त; √las लस्) + rāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + krīḍana (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √krīḍ क्रीड्) + lolupa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; lolupa = eager/greedy for; qualifies ‘mukundam’

• manasija-ākrāntam: overpowered by love (Kāma)
• manasija-ākrāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manasija (प्रातिपदिक; ‘mind-born’ = Kāma) + ākrānta (कृदन्त; √kram क्रम् with ā-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; PPP ākrānta = overpowered/assailed; qualifies ‘mukundam’

• mukundam: Mukunda (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• mukundam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukunda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• bhavet: may (one) become / should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (instructional meditation verse within the Narada Purana’s teaching flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Mukunda
• Gopis
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It prescribes a vivid dhyāna (contemplative visualization) of Mukunda as the heart’s chosen form—ornamented, graceful, and engaged in rāsa—so that the mind becomes absorbed in divine beauty and love, a classic bhakti-based method for inner steadiness and purification.

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

Bhakti here is cultivated through affectionate remembrance (smaraṇa) and meditation on Kṛṣṇa’s līlā with the gopīs, emphasizing intimate, personal devotion where the devotee’s mind is drawn from worldly desire into God-centered love.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily functions as a dhyāna-mantra style passage rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson; its practical takeaway aligns most with correct recitation and contemplative application (linked to śikṣā/phonetics and smṛti-based practice) for sustained mental focus in devotional worship.