Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

गुणवेदाक्षरैः शेषाण्यंगानि षडिति क्रमात् । अरुणामरुणाकल्पां सुंदरीं सुस्मिताननाम् ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

guṇavedākṣaraiḥ śeṣāṇyaṃgāni ṣaḍiti kramāt | aruṇāmaruṇākalpāṃ suṃdarīṃ susmitānanām || 75 ||

Translation

ನಂತರ ಗುಣ ಮತ್ತು ವೇದವನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುವ ಅಕ್ಷರಗಳಿಂದ ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿದ ಆರು ಅಂಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು. ಅನಂತರ ದೇವಿಯನ್ನು ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸಬೇಕು—ಅರುಣವರ್ಣೆ, ಉಷಸ್ಸಿನಂತೆ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಯೆ, ಸುಂದರಿಯೆ, ಮೃದುಸ್ಮಿತಮುಖಿಯೆ.

Word by Word

• guṇa-veda-akṣaraiḥ: by the syllables of ‘guṇa’ and ‘veda’
• guṇa-veda-akṣaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa + veda + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental ‘by letters/syllables (akṣaraiḥ) of guṇa and veda’

• śeṣāṇi: remaining
• śeṣāṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘remaining’

• aṃgāni: limbs; parts
• aṃgāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Sankhya (संख्या)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन/बहुवचन (indeclinable-like numeral form); here ‘six’

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-प्रयोग अव्यय (quotative particle)

• kramāt: in sequence; क्रमशः
• kramāt: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान) एकवचन; adverbial use ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• aruṇā: reddish; dawn-hued
• aruṇā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aruṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective (reddish/dawn-colored)

• amaruṇā-kalpām: having a form like ‘amaruṇā’/non-reddish? (uncertain)
• amaruṇā-kalpām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + maruṇā + kalpā (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; compound adjective; reading uncertain (amaruṇā-)

• suṃdarīm: the beautiful lady
• suṃdarīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suṃdarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• su-smita-ānanām: with a gently smiling face
• su-smita-ānanām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + smita + ānana (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘she whose face has a gentle smile’

Speaker

Narada (within a technical/ritual-vidhi exposition in dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It links precise mantra-application (placing syllables onto the body as ritual “limbs”) with inner contemplation, showing that correct procedure (krama) and focused dhyāna together refine the practitioner’s awareness toward the invoked divine form.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, disciplined worship: the devotee performs ordered nyāsa and then lovingly visualizes the deity’s auspicious form—beauty, radiance, and gentle smile—so devotion becomes steady and intimate through repeated remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights a technical ritual application of akṣaras (syllables) in a fixed sequence—an approach tied to Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation precision) and Kalpa (ritual procedure), especially in the method of aṅga-nyāsa (six-limbed placement).