Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

कामाद्याः कामनाथश्च काममानसभेदनः । कामदः कामरूपश्च कामिनीकामसंचयः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

kāmādyāḥ kāmanāthaśca kāmamānasabhedanaḥ | kāmadaḥ kāmarūpaśca kāminīkāmasaṃcayaḥ || 77 ||

Translation

Il est la source et l’origine du désir; le seigneur du désir; Celui qui, par le désir, transperce et trouble l’esprit. Il accorde ce qui est souhaité; il prend des formes selon le souhait; et il est l’accumulation même de l’ardeur chez les cœurs épris.

Word by Word

• कामाद्याः: those whose beginning is desire (desire and the like)
• कामाद्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम+आद्य (प्रातिपदिक; कामः आदिः येषाम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (possessive)

• कामनाथः: lord of desire
• कामनाथः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम+नाथ (प्रातिपदिक; कामस्य नाथः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

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

• काममानसभेदनः: piercer of the minds of lovers
• काममानसभेदनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम+मानस+भेदन (प्रातिपदिक; कामिनां मानसं भेदयति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (समासार्थे ‘कामिनाम्’ अव्यक्तम्)

• कामदः: giver of desires
• कामदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामद (प्रातिपदिक; कामं ददाति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष

• कामरूपः: having the form of desire
• कामरूपः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम+रूप (प्रातिपदिक; कामरूपः/कामस्य रूपम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (रूपेण कामः)

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

• कामिनीकामसंचयः: accumulation/collection of women’s desire
• कामिनीकामसंचयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामिनी+काम+संचय (प्रातिपदिक; कामिनीनां कामसंचयः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Narada (as a reciter of divine epithets within the technical/vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames desire (kāma) as a power ultimately governed by the Divine—He can kindle it, shape it, fulfill it, or pierce the mind through it—so the seeker is urged to redirect desire toward dharma and liberation rather than bondage.

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

By attributing even kāma to the Lord’s sovereignty, the verse supports bhakti as the method of transforming craving into God-centered longing—seeking the Lord rather than merely seeking objects of desire.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions like a mantra-nighaṇṭu (technical list of epithets): it trains precise recitation and semantic focus (useful for Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style understanding) so the practitioner contemplates specific powers of desire and mind during japa or ritual recitation.