Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिर्बाहुभिः पाशमंकुशं पानपात्रकम् । अभयं बिभ्रतीं पद्ममध्यासीनां मदालसाम् ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhirbāhubhiḥ pāśamaṃkuśaṃ pānapātrakam | abhayaṃ bibhratīṃ padmamadhyāsīnāṃ madālasām || 86 ||

Translation

De ses quatre bras, elle porte le pāśa (lacet), l’aṅkuśa (aiguillon), la coupe à boire et le geste d’Abhaya (l’absence de crainte). Assise au cœur du lotus, elle paraît languide, comme enivrée d’ivresse divine.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• बाहुभिः: arms
• बाहुभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• पाशम्: noose
• पाशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अङ्कुशम्: goad
• अङ्कुशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पान-पात्रकम्: a drinking cup/vessel
• पान-पात्रकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'drinking-vessel/cup'

• अभयम्: fearlessness (boon/abhaya)
• अभयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'fearlessness' as boon/gesture

• बिभ्रतीम्: holding/bearing
• बिभ्रतीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'carrying/holding'

• पद्म-मध्य-आसीनाम्: seated in the center of a lotus
• पद्म-मध्य-आसीनाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (√आस्, धातु; क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'seated in the middle of a lotus'

• मदालसाम्: gracefully languid
• मदालसाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदालसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective meaning 'languid with intoxication/pleasantly languid'

Speaker

Narada (describing a deity/iconographic form within the teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi (goddess form, unnamed in this verse)
• Padma (lotus)

FAQs

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

It teaches dhyāna and worship through precise iconographic cues: the deity’s attributes (noose, goad, cup, abhaya) encode control of the mind, guidance of impulses, sacramental enjoyment, and divine protection.

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

Bhakti is supported by concrete meditation-forms: visualizing the deity seated on the lotus and granting fearlessness stabilizes the devotee’s mind and deepens reverence, making worship focused and intimate.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, śāstra-style approach to ritual practice—using standardized deity-lakṣaṇa (form and emblems) for correct visualization and pūjā procedure, a key applied discipline in temple and household worship.