Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

कर्पूरकुंदधवलां पूर्णचंद्रोज्ज्वलाननाम् । हंसाधिरूढां भालेंदुदिव्यालंकारशोभिताम् ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

karpūrakuṃdadhavalāṃ pūrṇacaṃdrojjvalānanām | haṃsādhirūḍhāṃ bhāleṃdudivyālaṃkāraśobhitām || 97 ||

Translation

Médite sur Elle : blanche et éclatante comme le camphre et le jasmin, le visage brillant comme la pleine lune ; assise sur un cygne, et parée d’un divin ornement de croissant de lune sur le front.

Word by Word

• कर्पूरकुन्दधवलाम्: white like camphor and jasmine
• कर्पूरकुन्दधवलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूरकुन्दधवल (प्रातिपदिक: कर्पूर + कुन्द + धवल)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाक्देवताम्)

• पूर्णचन्द्रोज्ज्वलाननाम्: with a face radiant like the full moon
• पूर्णचन्द्रोज्ज्वलाननाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्णचन्द्रोज्ज्वलानन (प्रातिपदिक: पूर्ण + चन्द्र + उज्ज्वल + आनन)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• हंसाधिरूढाम्: mounted on a swan
• हंसाधिरूढाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंसाधिरूढ (प्रातिपदिक: हंस + अधिरूढ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भालेन्दुदिव्यालंकारशोभिताम्: adorned with divine ornaments and a moon on the forehead
• भालेन्दुदिव्यालंकारशोभिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भालेन्दुदिव्यालंकारशोभित (प्रातिपदिक: भाल + इन्दु + दिव्य + अलंकार + शोभित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (instructive narration in a dhyana/vidhi context; traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hamsa (swan)

FAQs

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

It provides a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography): by fixing the mind on the deity’s luminous, pure form (moonlike face, swan-seat, divine ornaments), the practitioner stabilizes attention and cultivates sattva for effective upāsanā.

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

Bhakti is strengthened through concrete contemplation: the devotee visualizes the beloved deity’s auspicious features with reverence, making remembrance (smaraṇa) steady and emotionally resonant.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style upāsanā method—using prescribed dhyāna imagery as part of mantra/ritual procedure—typical of Vedāṅga-aligned technical instruction (application of mantra with visualization).