Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

पूर्णेद्वास्यं स्फटिकभं नीलालकलसन्मुखम् । विभ्राणमिष्टं कुमुदं ध्यायेन्मुक्तास्रजं विधुम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

pūrṇedvāsyaṃ sphaṭikabhaṃ nīlālakalasanmukham | vibhrāṇamiṣṭaṃ kumudaṃ dhyāyenmuktāsrajaṃ vidhum || 55 ||

Translation

പൂർണ്ണചന്ദ്രസമമായ മുഖം, സ്ഫടികംപോലെ ദീപ്തി, നീല അലകകളാൽ ശോഭിതമായ വദനം—പ്രിയ കുമുദം ധരിച്ച്, മുത്തുമാലയാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച വിധുവിനെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• पूर्णेन्दु-आस्यम्: having a face like the full moon
• पूर्णेन्दु-आस्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण + इन्दु + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पूर्णेन्दु-सदृशम् आस्यम् यस्य) — ध्यान-विषयस्य विशेषणम्

• स्फटिक-आभम्: crystal-bright
• स्फटिक-आभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फटिक + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्फटिकवत् आभा/प्रभा यस्य)

• नील-आलक-लसत्-मुखम्: whose face shines with dark curls
• नील-आलक-लसत्-मुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + आलक + लसत् (कृदन्त) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (नीलैः आलकैः लसत् मुखं यस्य)

• विभ्राणम्: shining/bearing
• विभ्राणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + भ्राज्/भ्राज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/न्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अर्थः—‘bearing/shining’

• इष्टम्: beloved/desired
• इष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘desired/pleasing’

• कुमुदम्: lotus (kumuda)
• कुमुदम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान/विशेष्य-रूपेण

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate upon
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मुक्ता-स्रजम्: wearing a garland of pearls
• मुक्ता-स्रजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ता + स्रज्/स्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तानां स्रक् यस्य/मुक्तामयी स्रक्)

• विधुम्: the Moon (Vidhu)
• विधुम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; चन्द्र-पर्यायः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada a dhyāna for graha-upāsanā within Vedāṅga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Vidhu)
• Kumuda (white lotus)

FAQs

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

It gives a precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization template) for Chandra, using purity symbols (crystal radiance, white lotus, pearl garland) to steady the mind and invoke sattva, calmness, and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti here functions as focused upāsanā: the devotee lovingly contemplates a divine form (Chandra) with specific attributes, training the heart and attention through reverent visualization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-linked practice (graha-upāsanā) by prescribing a standardized iconographic meditation on the Moon, useful for ritual, mantra-japa, and astrological remedial worship contexts.