Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 136

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

श्यामवर्णशुभाकारां नवयौवनशोभिताम् । द्विद्विक्रमादष्टनागैः कल्पिताभरणोज्ज्वलैः ॥ १३६ ॥

Transliteration

śyāmavarṇaśubhākārāṃ navayauvanaśobhitām | dvidvikramādaṣṭanāgaiḥ kalpitābharaṇojjvalaiḥ || 136 ||

Translation

De teint sombre et de forme belle et propice, elle resplendissait de l’éclat d’une jeunesse toute neuve. Elle rayonnait d’ornements façonnés selon les mesures mythiques des « deux enjambées » et des huit Nāgas.

Word by Word

• श्याम-वर्ण-शुभ-आकाराम्: (her) of dark hue and auspicious form
• श्याम-वर्ण-शुभ-आकाराम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (a form that is dark-colored and auspicious in shape)

• नव-यौवन-शोभिताम्: adorned with fresh youthfulness
• नव-यौवन-शोभिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्/√शोभ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नवयौवनेन शोभिता’ (adorned by fresh youth)

• द्वि-द्वि-क्रमात्: from/with four strides (measure)
• द्वि-द्वि-क्रमात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास; ‘द्विद्विक्रम’ = four steps/strides (2×2)

• अष्ट-नागैः: with eight nāgas (serpents)
• अष्ट-नागैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्विगु: ‘अष्ट नागाः’ (eight nāgas/serpents)

• कल्पित-आभरण-उज्ज्वलैः: shining with crafted ornaments
• कल्पित-आभरण-उज्ज्वलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पित (कृदन्त; √कॢप्) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कल्पितैः आभरणैः उज्ज्वलैः’ (shining with fashioned ornaments)

Speaker

Narada (narration within the Adhyaya’s descriptive passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Trivikrama (Vamana/Vishnu)
• Nagas

FAQs

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

It presents an auspicious divine figure whose beauty is framed through cosmic symbols—Trivikrama’s strides and the Nāgas—suggesting a form that embodies sacred order (ṛta) and protective, serpent-associated power.

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

By inviting contemplative seeing (dhyāna) of the deity’s auspicious form—youthful radiance and ornamented splendor—this verse supports bhakti through visualized reverence and loving attention to divine attributes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses technical, measure-based symbolism (Trivikrama’s strides as a cosmic ‘standard’) and mythic classification (eight Nāgas), echoing Vedāṅga-style structuring of knowledge through categories and symbolic correspondences.