Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

तं चारुकेश्यः शुश्रेण्यस्तरुण्यः प्रियदर्शनाः । सूक्ष्मरक्तांबरधरास्तप्तकांचनभूषणाः ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ cārukeśyaḥ śuśreṇyastaruṇyaḥ priyadarśanāḥ | sūkṣmaraktāṃbaradharāstaptakāṃcanabhūṣaṇāḥ || 63 ||

Translation

麗しい髪を持ち、育ちも良く、目に喜ばしい若い女たちが彼に仕え、薄く細やかな深紅の衣をまとい、輝く黄金の飾りを身に着けていた。

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• चारु-केश्यः: (women) with lovely hair
• चारु-केश्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + केशिन्/केश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—चारवः केशाः यस्याः (women with beautiful hair)

• सु-श्रेण्यः: excellent/choice (women)
• सु-श्रेण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + श्रेणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सुश्रेणी’ = उत्तमश्रेण्यः/सुशोभनपङ्क्तयः (well-ranked/choice)

• तरुण्यः: young women
• तरुण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• प्रिय-दर्शनाः: pleasant-looking
• प्रिय-दर्शनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—प्रियं दर्शनं यस्याः (pleasant to behold)

• सूक्ष्म-रक्त-अम्बर-धराः: wearing fine red garments
• सूक्ष्म-रक्त-अम्बर-धराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (√धृ धातु, अच्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सूक्ष्मं रक्तम् अम्बरं धरन्ति याः (wearing fine red garments)

• तप्त-काञ्चन-भूषणाः: adorned with pure gold ornaments
• तप्त-काञ्चन-भूषणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (√तप् धातु, क्त) + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—तप्तकाञ्चनस्य भूषणानि यासाम् (adorned with heated/pure gold ornaments)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse paints a vivid picture of refined sensual and royal splendor, typically used in Moksha-Dharma contexts to highlight what binds the mind—so the seeker can cultivate detachment and turn toward liberation.

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

By emphasizing external beauty and luxury, it implicitly contrasts transient pleasure with lasting refuge in the Divine; Bhakti redirects attention from charming appearances to steady remembrance of the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Shiksha, or Jyotisha) is taught in this line; it functions as narrative description supporting a broader Moksha-Dharma teaching on restraint and discernment.