Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

उन्मीलन्नवकैरवालिविगलन्माध्वीकलब्धांतरं भ्राम्यन्मत्तमिलिंदगीतललिते सन्मल्लिकोज्जृम्भिते । पीयूषांशुकरैर्विशालितहरित्प्रांते स्मरोद्दीपने कालिन्दीपुलिनांगणे स्मितमुखं वेणुं रणंतं मुहुः ॥ १०९ ॥

Transliteration

unmīlannavakairavālivigalanmādhvīkalabdhāṃtaraṃ bhrāmyanmattamiliṃdagītalalite sanmallikojjṛmbhite | pīyūṣāṃśukarairviśālitaharitprāṃte smaroddīpane kālindīpulināṃgaṇe smitamukhaṃ veṇuṃ raṇaṃtaṃ muhuḥ || 109 ||

Translation

Di pelataran berpasir di tepi Kāliṇdī—tempat gugus teratai putih muda merekah, madu merembes dari dalamnya, lebah-lebah mabuk berkelana sambil bernyanyi merdu, dan melati mulia mengembang—di hamparan hijau yang diluaskan oleh sinar rembulan sejuk bak amṛta yang membangkitkan asmara, Śrī Kṛṣṇa berwajah tersenyum berulang kali membunyikan serulingnya.

Word by Word

• उन्मीलत्-नव-कैरव-आलि-विगलत्-माध्वीका-लब्ध-अन्तरम्: (a scene) having intervals filled with dripping honey from rows of newly opening white lotuses
• उन्मीलत्-नव-कैरव-आलि-विगलत्-माध्वीका-लब्ध-अन्तरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्+मील् (धातु)+नव (प्रातिपदिक)+कैरव (प्रातिपदिक)+आलि (प्रातिपदिक)+वि+गल् (धातु)+माध्वीका (प्रातिपदिक)+लभ् (धातु)+अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—(उन्मीलत् नवकैरव-आलि) (विगलत् माध्वीका) (लब्धम् अन्तरम्) यस्य (अर्थतः ‘having spaces filled/obtained by dripping honey from rows of newly opening lotuses’)

• भ्राम्यत्-मत्त-मिलिन्द-गीत-ललिते: in (a place) made charming by the songs of roaming intoxicated bees
• भ्राम्यत्-मत्त-मिलिन्द-गीत-ललिते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)+मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)+मिलिन्द (प्रातिपदिक)+गीत (प्रातिपदिक)+ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—भ्राम्यन्तः मत्तमिलिन्दाः, तेषां गीतैः ललिते (तत्पुरुष; ‘charming with songs of roaming intoxicated bees’)

• सत्-मल्लिका-उज्जृम्भिते: in (a place) blossoming with lovely jasmine
• सत्-मल्लिका-उज्जृम्भिते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)+मल्लिका (प्रातिपदिक)+उद्+जृम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘उज्जृम्भित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—सन्मल्लिकाभिः उज्जृम्भिते (touched/expanded with fine jasmine blossoms)

• पीयूष-अंशु-करैः: by nectar-like rays (moonbeams)
• पीयूष-अंशु-करैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीयूष (प्रातिपदिक)+अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)+कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—पीयूषवत् अंशवः, तेषां कराः (तत्पुरुष; ‘nectar-like rays’)

• विशालित-हरित्-प्रान्ते: in the broad green expanse
• विशालित-हरित्-प्रान्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशालित (प्रातिपदिक)+हरित् (प्रातिपदिक)+प्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—विशालः हरित्प्रान्तः (तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव)

• स्मर-उद्दीपने: in (a setting) that kindles love
• स्मर-उद्दीपने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)+उद्+दीप् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—स्मरस्य उद्दीपनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• कालिन्दी-पुलिन-अङ्गणे: in the courtyard on the Yamunā’s sandy bank
• कालिन्दी-पुलिन-अङ्गणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)+पुलिन (प्रातिपदिक)+अङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—कालिन्द्याः पुलिनस्य अङ्गणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्मित-मुखम्: smiling-faced
• स्मित-मुखम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)+मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—स्मितं मुखं यस्य (कर्मधारय; ‘smiling-faced’)

• वेणुम्: the flute
• वेणुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• रणन्तम्: resounding/playing
• रणन्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘making sound/resounding’

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

Speaker

Narada (in the narrative flow of Book 1.3, typically within instruction/description addressed in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kālindī (Yamunā)
• Smara (Kāma)
• Bees (miliṃda)
• Lotuses (kairava)
• Jasmine (mallikā)

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred nature imagery on the Yamunā (Kālindī) bank to direct the mind into dhyāna: the sweetness of blossoms, bees, moon-cool rays, and flute-sound together model how devotional contemplation transforms sensory beauty into remembrance of the Divine.

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

Bhakti is shown as repeated, affectionate remembrance—“muhuḥ” (again and again)—centered on the Lord’s līlā-like presence (smiling face, flute music) within a sanctified setting, where the heart naturally becomes absorbed through rasa rather than dry argument.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, the verse showcases chandas and kāvya-alankāra (meter and poetic ornament), a style of disciplined expression aligned with Vedāṅga sensibilities—using precise compounds and imagery to support memorization and contemplative recitation.