Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

फुल्लेंदीवरकांतं च केकिबर्हावतंसकम् । पीतांशुकं चंद्रमुखं सरसीरुहनेत्रकम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

phulleṃdīvarakāṃtaṃ ca kekibarhāvataṃsakam | pītāṃśukaṃ caṃdramukhaṃ sarasīruhanetrakam || 48 ||

Translation

Il rayonne tel le lotus bleu pleinement épanoui, paré d’une aigrette de plume de paon ; vêtu de jaune, au visage semblable à la lune, et aux yeux pareils aux pétales de lotus.

Word by Word

• फुल्ल-इन्दीवर-कान्तम्: beautiful like a blooming blue lotus
• फुल्ल-इन्दीवर-कान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फुल्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दीवर (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of मुकुन्दम् (understood)

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

• केकि-बर्ह-वतंसकम्: adorned with a peacock-feather ornament
• केकि-बर्ह-वतंसकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केकि (प्रातिपदिक) + बर्ह (प्रातिपदिक) + वतंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (having peacock-feather ornament)

• पीत-अंशुकम्: clad in yellow cloth
• पीत-अंशुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (wearing yellow garment)

• चन्द्र-मुखम्: moon-faced
• चन्द्र-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (moon-faced)

• सरसीरुह-नेत्रकम्: lotus-eyed
• सरसीरुह-नेत्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरसीरुह (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (lotus-eyed)

Speaker

Narada (describing the deity’s form within the teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna-style description: contemplating the Lord’s auspicious form (moon-face, lotus-eyes, yellow garments) steadies the mind and supports devotion-focused worship.

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

Bhakti is strengthened through loving remembrance (smaraṇa) and visualization of the Lord’s beauty; the verse supplies concrete attributes for saguna-upāsanā, making devotion emotionally and mentally accessible.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects applied chandas/poetic discipline and traditional murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic markers) used in ritual recitation and meditation, though it does not teach a specific Vedanga rule explicitly.