Devi Bhagavatam 9.13.23 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 23

Ganga Upakhyana: The Origin of Goddess Ganga

Devanagari script

कस्तूरीबिन्दुभिर्युक्तं चन्दनेन समन्वितम् । दीप्तदीपप्रभाकारं सिन्दूरं बिन्दुशोभितम्

Transliteration

kastūrībindubhiryuktaṃ candanena samanvitam . dīptadīpaprabhākāraṃ sindūraṃ binduśobhitam

Translation

Elle était ornée d'un point de Sindoor brillant comme une lampe éclatante, mêlé de points de bois de santal et de musc.

Word by Word

• kastūrībindubhiḥ: with dots of musk
• kastūrībindubhiḥ: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: bindu
• Form: Instrumental Plural Masculine

• yuktam: joined
• yuktam: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

• candanena: with sandalwood paste
• candanena: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana
• Form: Instrumental Singular Masculine

• samanvitam: accompanied
• samanvitam: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-anu-ita
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

• dīptadīpaprabhākāram: having the appearance of the light of a blazing lamp
• dīptadīpaprabhākāram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāra
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

• sindūram: vermilion
• sindūram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindūra
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

• binduśobhitam: adorned with dots
• binduśobhitam: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śobhita
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

Speaker

Narayana

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Radha

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Physical beauty and divine adornment

Tattva Discussed: Prakriti

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: setup

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: Ajna (implied by Sindoor dot)

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Narayana

Listener: Narada

Dialogue Context: Describing the divine drama in Goloka

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: Describes the traditional Bindi/Tilak worn by married or supreme goddesses, reflecting the Shringara offerings made by devotees.

Philosophical Significance

Text: The glowing Sindoor represents the concentrated fire of her divine energy (Shakti) and her eternal auspiciousness (Suhagan status) with Krishna.

Characters & Entities

• Radhika
• Sindoor
• Kasturi

FAQs

How is Radha's forehead decorated?

Her forehead is decorated with a dot of Sindoor that shines brightly like a lamp, accompanied by dots of musk (Kasturi) and sandalwood (Chandan).