Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

सर्वाद्याया जगन्मातुः श्रीराधायाः समर्चनम् । अवतारकलानां हि पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

sarvādyāyā jaganmātuḥ śrīrādhāyāḥ samarcanam | avatārakalānāṃ hi papraccha vinayānvitaḥ || 2 ||

Translation

Avec humilité, il s’enquit de la juste manière d’adorer Śrī Rādhā—la Primordiale, Mère de l’univers—et aussi des kalā, les parts divines des incarnations du Seigneur.

Word by Word

• सर्व-आद्यायाः: of the primordial (one), the first of all
• सर्व-आद्यायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (feminine genitive singular; adjectival)

• जगत्-मातुः: of the Mother of the world
• जगत्-मातुः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (feminine genitive singular)

• श्री-राधायाः: of Śrī Rādhā
• श्री-राधायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + राधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (feminine genitive singular)

• समर्चनम्: worship, adoration
• समर्चनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु) → समर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्तिन्/ल्युट्-भाववाचक (neuter nominative/accusative singular; act of worship)

• अवतार-कलानाम्: of the portions/parts of incarnations
• अवतार-कलानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (feminine genitive plural)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (निपात/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• पप्रच्छ: asked, inquired
• पप्रच्छ: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन (singular)

• विनय-अन्वितः: endowed with humility
• विनय-अन्वितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; √इ ‘to go’ with anu)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (masculine nominative singular; endowed with humility)

Speaker

Narada (as the humble inquirer in the dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Sri Radha

FAQs

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

It frames the teaching as a humble inquiry: true knowledge of worship begins with vinaya (humility) and seeks both right upāsanā (worship) and right understanding of avatāra-tattva (the principle of divine descents).

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

Bhakti here is presented as reverential samarcana (devotional adoration) directed to Śrī Rādhā, coupled with inquiry into the Lord’s avatāra-kalās—showing that devotion is strengthened by understanding the divine manifestations one worships.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ritual-practice language—samarcana (formal worship) and doctrinal categorization—useful for applying śāstric procedure in pūjā and for systematically understanding avatāra classifications taught in Purāṇic and allied śāstra traditions.