Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

कैशोरवयसा बाला प्रमदाकुलशेखरा । कृष्णाधरसुधा स्वादा श्यामप्रेमविनोदिनी ॥ १७७ ॥

Transliteration

kaiśoravayasā bālā pramadākulaśekharā | kṛṣṇādharasudhā svādā śyāmapremavinodinī || 177 ||

Translation

A maiden in the fresh bloom of youth, the crest-jewel among love-struck women—sweet as the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s lips—she delighted in prema for Śyāma, the Dark-hued Lord.

Word by Word

• कैशोर-वयसा: by youthful age
• कैशोर-वयसा: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैशोर (प्रातिपदिक) + वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वयस्), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘कैशोरं वयः’ इति कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः; तृतीया—हेतौ/विशेषणे (by/with youthful age)

• बाला: a young girl
• बाला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रमदा-आकुल-शेखरा: whose crest is thronged with playful maidens
• प्रमदा-आकुल-शेखरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमदा (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘प्रमदाभिः आकुलः शेखरः यस्याः’ (crown/crest surrounded by maidens; or having a crest of playful women)

• कृष्ण-अधर-सुधा: nectar of Krishna’s lips
• कृष्ण-अधर-सुधा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक) + सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कृष्णस्य अधरस्य सुधा’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• स्वादा: sweet
• स्वादा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (tasty/sweet)

• श्याम-प्रेम-विनोदिनी: playful in love for Śyāma (Krishna)
• श्याम-प्रेम-विनोदिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + विनोदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘श्यामे प्रेम्णा विनोदिनी’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः: sporting/playing through love for Śyāma)

Speaker

Narada (in a descriptive eulogy within the ongoing discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Śyāma

FAQs

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

It portrays the soul’s devotional absorption as sweet, intimate, and single-minded—prema for Śyāma (Kṛṣṇa) that overwhelms ordinary worldly emotions and becomes the highest delight.

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

By presenting devotion as loving relish (svāda) and joyful engagement (vinodinī) centered on Kṛṣṇa, it emphasizes bhakti as heartfelt attachment rather than mere formal observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it primarily uses poetic devotional vocabulary to convey the experiential mood of bhakti.