Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

शशिखण्डधरां वीणां वादयंतीं मधून्मदाम् । रक्तांशुकां च कह्लारमालाशोभितचूलिकाम् ॥ १२९ ॥

Transliteration

śaśikhaṇḍadharāṃ vīṇāṃ vādayaṃtīṃ madhūnmadām | raktāṃśukāṃ ca kahlāramālāśobhitacūlikām || 129 ||

Translation

He beheld her—wearing the moon as an ornament, playing the vīṇā, intoxicated with the sweetness of honey; clad in red garments, her hair adorned and beautified by a garland of blue lotuses (kahlāra).

Word by Word

• शशिखण्डधराम्: bearing a moon-crescent
• शशिखण्डधराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि-खण्ड-धरा (प्रातिपदिक; components: शशि + खण्ड + धरा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of देवता)

• वीणाम्: a vīṇā (lute)
• वीणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वादयन्तीम्: playing (causing to sound)
• वादयन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वद्/√वाद् (धातु) + वादयत् (णिच्-प्रयोजक वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: णिच् (causative) + शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मधून्: honeys / sweet drinks
• मधून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मदाम्: intoxicated
• मदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of देवता)

• रक्तांशुकाम्: clad in red cloth
• रक्तांशुकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक; components: रक्त + अंशुक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कह्लारमालाशोभितचूलिकाम्: whose topknot is adorned with a kahlāra-garland
• कह्लारमालाशोभितचूलिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कह्लार-माला-शोभित-चूलिका (प्रातिपदिक; components: कह्लार + माला + शोभित (कृदन्त) + चूलिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘कह्लारमालया शोभिता चूलिका यस्याः’ (topknot adorned by a garland of kahlāra-lotuses)

Speaker

Narada (narrative description within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Vina
• Kahlara (blue lotus)

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred aesthetics—moon-ornament, vīṇā-music, lotus-garlands, and red garments—to evoke meditative contemplation (dhyāna) where beauty and sound become supports for devotion and inner steadiness.

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

By portraying a divine presence absorbed in music, it suggests bhakti as loving absorption: the devotee’s mind is drawn to the Lord’s/Deity’s qualities (guṇa) through uplifting forms, symbols, and sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The prominence of the vīṇā and sound points to Śikṣā (phonetics) and chandas/rhythm as practical disciplines—training the voice, tone, and cadence so recitation and musical devotion remain precise and spiritually effective.