Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

जातुश्चासंख्यगोपालास्तेजसा वयसा समाः । प्राणतुल्यप्रियाः सर्वे बभूवुः पार्षदा विभोः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

jātuścāsaṃkhyagopālāstejasā vayasā samāḥ | prāṇatulyapriyāḥ sarve babhūvuḥ pārṣadā vibhoḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Parfois apparurent d’innombrables gopālas, égaux en éclat et en âge. Tous devinrent les compagnons-serviteurs (pārṣadas) du Seigneur, chers à Lui comme son propre souffle de vie.

Word by Word

• जातु: indeed/at some time
• जातु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जातु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal particle: at some time/indeed)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• असंख्यगोपालाः: countless cowherds
• असंख्यगोपालाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असंख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; (असंख्याः गोपालाः) nominative plural

• तेजसा: by splendor
• तेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वयसा: by age (in age)
• वयसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• समाः: equal
• समाः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Predicate/subject adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; predicate adjective agreeing with गोपालाः

• प्राणतुल्यप्रियाः: dear as life itself
• प्राणतुल्यप्रियाः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; (प्राणैः तुल्यं प्रियं येषाम्/प्राणतुल्यं प्रियं) ‘as dear as life’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• बभूवुः: became/were
• बभूवुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पार्षदाः: attendants/retainers
• पार्षदाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• विभोः: of the Lord
• विभोः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purana’s dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vibhu (the Lord—commonly understood as Vishnu/Krishna in such narratives)
• Gopalas (cowherds)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic ideal that pure devotees are not merely worshippers but become the Lord’s intimate attendants (pārṣadas), cherished by Him as dearly as life itself.

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

By portraying the gopālas as equal in radiance and close in companionship, the verse teaches that bhakti matures into intimate service and nearness to the Lord—devotion expressed as constant, loving attendance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is devotional praxis—sevā (attendant service) and cultivating prāṇa-tulya love toward the Lord.