Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 183

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

Devanagari script

केतकीकुसुमाभासा सदा सिंधुवनस्थिता । हेमपुष्पाधिककरा पञ्चशक्तिमयी हिता ॥ १८३ ॥

Transliteration

ketakīkusumābhāsā sadā siṃdhuvanasthitā | hemapuṣpādhikakarā pañcaśaktimayī hitā || 183 ||

Translation

Elle resplendit comme la fleur de ketakī, demeurant toujours dans la forêt du Sindhu; ses mains sont parées de fleurs d’or. Bienfaisante, elle incarne les cinq puissances.

Word by Word

• केतकीकुसुमाभासा: having the radiance/appearance of ketakī flowers
• केतकीकुसुमाभासा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केतकी + कुसुम + आभासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (केतकी-कुसुम-आभास)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सिन्धुवनस्थिता: situated in the Sindhu-forest
• सिन्धुवनस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिन्धु + वन + स्थिता (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; स्थिता = ‘situated’ (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle)

• हेमपुष्पाधिककरा: whose hands are superior/exceeding (like) golden flowers
• हेमपुष्पाधिककरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + पुष्प + अधिक + करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; करा = ‘hand/ray’ (here: ‘hand’)

• पञ्चशक्तिमयी: consisting of five powers
• पञ्चशक्तिमयी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + शक्ति + मयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च-शक्ति) + मयी (consisting of)

• हिता: beneficial, well-disposed
• हिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse is a descriptive epithet within the technical cataloging section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sindhu (region/forest)
• Ketaki (flower)

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a dhyāna-style description: it marks an auspicious divine presence by color, location, and attributes, culminating in “pañcaśakti”—a reminder that worship is not merely aesthetic but invokes a structured set of spiritual powers for welfare (hita).

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

Bhakti is supported through contemplative visualization (dhyāna) and praise (stuti): by meditating on the deity’s auspicious form and beneficence, the devotee steadies the mind and directs reverence into a focused act of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style usage common in Vedāṅga-aligned ritual practice: precise epithets and imagery serve as cues for mantra-recitation and dhyāna in pūjā, helping standardize how a form is invoked and remembered.