Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

गोपिकामार्जितमुखो गोपीव्यंजनवीजितः । गोपिकाकेशसंस्कारी गोपिकापुष्पसंस्तरः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

gopikāmārjitamukho gopīvyaṃjanavījitaḥ | gopikākeśasaṃskārī gopikāpuṣpasaṃstaraḥ || 72 ||

Translation

His face was wiped clean by the gopīs; He was fanned by the gopīs with fans; His hair was adorned and arranged by the gopīs; and He reclined upon a bed of flowers spread by the gopīs.

Word by Word

• गोपिकामार्जितमुखः: whose face is wiped/cleansed by a gopī
• गोपिकामार्जितमुखः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-मार्जित-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘मार्जित’ = कृदन्त (क्त, √मृज्) विशेषणरूपेण (गोपिकया मार्जितं मुखं यस्य)

• गोपीव्यंजनवीजितः: fanned by a gopī with a fan
• गोपीव्यंजनवीजितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपी-व्यञ्जन-वीजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘वीजित’ = कृदन्त (क्त, √वीज्) (गोपीव्यञ्जनेन वीजितः)

• गोपिकाकेशसंस्कारी: adorned/arranged the gopī’s hair (hair-dresser)
• गोपिकाकेशसंस्कारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-केश-संस्कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपिकायाः केशानां संस्कारी = अलङ्कर्ता/संस्कर्ता)

• गोपिकापुष्पसंस्तरः: flower-bed (made by/for) the gopī
• गोपिकापुष्पसंस्तरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपिका-पुष्प-संस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपिकायाः पुष्पसंस्तरः / गोपिकाकृतः पुष्पसंस्तरः)

Speaker

Narada (narration within the teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis

FAQs

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

It portrays bhakti as loving, personal service where the Supreme Lord accepts the devotees’ intimate care—showing that devotion is not only ritual but also affectionate attendance (seva) offered with pure love.

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

Bhakti is shown as active, tender service—cleaning, fanning, adorning, and preparing a resting place—demonstrating that constant remembrance and service to Krishna in every act is itself the path.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily a bhakti-lila description rather than a Vedanga rule; practically, it supports upacāra-sevā in pūjā (attentive services like cleansing, fanning, adorning, and offering flowers) as a lived expression of devotion.