Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

गैरिकाचित्रितवपुर्नवमेघवपुः स्मरः । कोटिकंदर्पलावण्यो लसन्मकरकुंडलः ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

gairikācitritavapurnavameghavapuḥ smaraḥ | koṭikaṃdarpalāvaṇyo lasanmakarakuṃḍalaḥ || 59 ||

Translation

Smara (Kāma) apparut, le corps nuancé d’ocre rouge, semblable à un nuage de pluie tout neuf; il possédait la beauté de dix millions de Cupidon et portait des boucles d’oreilles étincelantes en forme de makara.

Word by Word

• गैरिक-आ-चित्रित-वपुः: whose body is painted with red ochre
• गैरिक-आ-चित्रित-वपुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गैरिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आ-चित्रित (कृदन्त; आ+√चित्र् (चित्र्) + क्त) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—गैरिकेण आचित्रितं वपुः यस्य

• नव-मेघ-वपुः: with a body like a fresh cloud
• नव-मेघ-वपुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—नवमेघ इव वपुः यस्य

• स्मरः: (like) Smara, the god of love
• स्मरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान/नाम—कामदेवः (स्मर)

• कोटि-कन्दर्प-लावण्यः: having the beauty of millions of Kandarpa (Cupids)
• कोटि-कन्दर्प-लावण्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्दर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + लावण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कोटिकन्दर्पस्य (कोटिगुणित-कामदेवस्य) लावण्यं यस्य

• लसन्-मकर-कुण्डलः: with shining makara-earrings
• लसन्-मकर-कुण्डलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लसत् (कृदन्त; √लस् (लस्) + शतृ) + मकर (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—लसत् (प्रकाशमान) मकरकुण्डलः यस्य; ‘लसन्’ = वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator within the dialogue tradition addressed to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Smara
• Kandarpas

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred aesthetic imagery to portray Smara’s overwhelming power of attraction—reminding the reader that desire can appear dazzling and compelling, and thus must be understood and governed within dharma.

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

By highlighting the captivating force of kāma (desire), the verse indirectly supports bhakti’s discipline: devotion redirects the mind from sensory enchantment to steadiness in worship and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the puranic-technical concern with rupa-varṇana (formal description of forms, ornaments, and signs), useful for traditional iconographic understanding that often accompanies ritual, mantra, and temple practice.