Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

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

Devanagari script

समया भक्तिदाशोका वात्सल्यरसदायिनी । सुहृद्भक्तिप्रदा स्वच्छा माधुर्यरसवर्षिणी ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

samayā bhaktidāśokā vātsalyarasadāyinī | suhṛdbhaktipradā svacchā mādhuryarasavarṣiṇī || 187 ||

Translation

Elle est juste en son temps et parfaitement mesurée; elle accorde la bhakti et dissipe la peine. Elle donne la saveur de vatsalya, la tendre affection; elle offre la bhakti comme une amie bienveillante; pure et limpide, elle fait pleuvoir le nectar de la douceur, madhurya-rasa.

Word by Word

• समया: proper/seasonable
• समया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (even/appropriate/seasonable)

• भक्तिदा: giver of devotion
• भक्तिदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तिदा = भक्ति + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तिं ददाति इति)

• अशोका: sorrowless
• अशोका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशोका = अ + शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः (free from sorrow)

• वात्सल्यरसदायिनी: bestower of the flavor of parental affection
• वात्सल्यरसदायिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात्सल्यरसदायिनी = वात्सल्य + रस + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वात्सल्य-रसस्य दायिनी = bestower of the rasa of affection)

• सुहृत्: friend, well-wisher
• सुहृत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-रूपम्; समासपूर्वपदम् (friend/well-wisher)

• भक्तिप्रदा: bestower of devotion
• भक्तिप्रदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तिप्रदा = भक्ति + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तिं प्रददाति इति)

• स्वच्छा: pure/clear
• स्वच्छा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• माधुर्यरसवर्षिणी: showerer of the flavor of sweetness
• माधुर्यरसवर्षिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधुर्यरसवर्षिणी = माधुर्य + रस + वर्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (माधुर्य-रसस्य वर्षिणी = showerer of the rasa of sweetness)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on the qualities/effects of devotional cultivation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It lists hallmark qualities of mature devotion—regulated conduct, purity, and the experience of devotional ‘rasa’—and states that such devotion both grants bhakti and dissolves sorrow.

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

Bhakti is portrayed not only as practice but as a transforming power: it becomes clear (svacchā), expresses affectionate relationship (vātsalya), deepens into sweetness (mādhurya), and naturally brings compassionate, friendly devotion (suhṛd-bhakti).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The stress on samayā (timely, well-regulated) aligns with disciplined observance—proper timing and order in vrata and ritual conduct—rather than a specific technical rule of Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this single verse.