Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

चन्द्रावली च ललिता द्वे सख्यौ सुप्रिये सदा । मालावतीमुखाष्टानां चन्द्रावल्यधिपास्मृता ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

candrāvalī ca lalitā dve sakhyau supriye sadā | mālāvatīmukhāṣṭānāṃ candrāvalyadhipāsmṛtā || 8 ||

Translation

Candrāvalī et Lalitā sont les deux sakhīs toujours chéries. Dans le groupe des huit conduit par Mālāvatī, Candrāvalī est rappelée comme la cheffe.

Word by Word

• चन्द्रावली: Candrāvalī
• चन्द्रावली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रावली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ललिता: Lalitā
• ललिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• सख्यौ: (two) friends
• सख्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन

• सुप्रिये: very dear
• सुप्रिये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of सख्यौ)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मालावतीमुखाष्टानाम्: of the group of eight headed by Mālāvatī
• मालावतीमुखाष्टानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालावती + मुख + अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मालावतीमुखाः येषां ते / ‘मालावतीमुख’ समूहस्य) + ‘अष्ट’ (eight)

• चन्द्रावली-अधिपा: Candrāvalī (as) the leader
• चन्द्रावली-अधिपा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रावली + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रावल्याः अधिपा)

• स्मृता: is remembered/said
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः (is said/remembered)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Candrāvalī
• Lalitā
• Mālāvatī

FAQs

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

It preserves the traditional hierarchy of Kṛṣṇa’s intimate attendants, showing that bhakti is also expressed through ordered, faithful service within the Lord’s divine community.

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

By naming the sakhīs and identifying leadership among them, the verse emphasizes personal, relational devotion—bhakti as loving participation and service in the Lord’s līlā with recognized roles and responsibilities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This is primarily an anukrama-style (systematic listing) passage—useful for textual organization and traditional memorization—rather than a direct teaching of a Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.