Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

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

Devanagari script

अन्तस्तोयलसन्नवांबुदघटासंघट्टकारत्विषं चंचञ्चिल्लिकमंबुजायतदृशं बिम्बाधरं सुन्दरम् । मायूरच्छदबद्धमौलिविलसद्धम्मिल्लमालं चलं दीप्यत्कुण्डलरत्नरश्मिविलसद्गंडद्वयोद्बासितम् ॥ ११० ॥

Transliteration

antastoyalasannavāṃbudaghaṭāsaṃghaṭṭakāratviṣaṃ caṃcañcillikamaṃbujāyatadṛśaṃ bimbādharaṃ sundaram | māyūracchadabaddhamaulivilasaddhammillamālaṃ calaṃ dīpyatkuṇḍalaratnaraśmivilasadgaṃḍadvayodbāsitam || 110 ||

Translation

ആ മുഖം അത്യന്തം സുന്ദരം—ജലഭരിതമായ നവമേഘഘടങ്ങൾ കൂട്ടിയിടിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ ശ്യാമകാന്തിയിൽ ദീപ്തം; ചഞ്ചലനേത്രങ്ങൾ പദ്മദളസദൃശം; അധരങ്ങൾ ബിംബഫലസമം. മസ്തകത്തിൽ മയൂരപ്പിഞ്ചുബദ്ധമായ കിരീടം ശോഭിക്കുന്നു, ചലിക്കുന്ന കേശമാല തിളങ്ങുന്നു, രത്നജടിത കുണ്ഡലങ്ങളുടെ ദീപ്തരശ്മികൾ ഇരുകപോലങ്ങളെയും പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अन्तस्-तोय-लसत्-नव-अम्बुद-घटा-संघट्ट-कार-त्विषम्: having a dark lustre like fresh raincloud-masses reflected in inner waters
• अन्तस्-तोय-लसत्-नव-अम्बुद-घटा-संघट्ट-कार-त्विषम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)+तोय (प्रातिपदिक)+लस् (धातु)+नव (प्रातिपदिक)+अम्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)+घटा (प्रातिपदिक)+सम्+घट्ट् (धातु)+कार (प्रातिपदिक)+त्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—अन्तस्तोये लसत् नवाम्बुदघटानां संघट्टेन कारा (कृष्णवर्णता) तस्याः त्विष् यस्य (अर्थतः ‘having the sheen like the dark color produced by collision of fresh rain-cloud masses shining in inner waters’)

• चञ्चत्-चिल्लिकम्: with a quivering tilaka/forehead mark
• चञ्चत्-चिल्लिकम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चत् (कृदन्त from चञ्च्/चञ्चलभाव)+चिल्लिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—चञ्चत् चिल्लिकम् (कर्मधारय); चिल्लिक = ललाटतिलक/ललाटचिह्न (forehead mark/tilaka)

• अम्बुज-आयत-दृशम्: lotus-long-eyed
• अम्बुज-आयत-दृशम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)+आयत (प्रातिपदिक)+दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अम्बुजवत् आयते दृशौ यस्य (तत्पुरुष; ‘lotus-long-eyed’)

• बिम्ब-अधरम्: with bimba-like lips
• बिम्ब-अधरम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)+अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—बिम्ब इव अधरः (कर्मधारय; ‘bimba-fruit-like lips’)

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मायूर-च्छद-बद्ध-मौलि-विलसत्-धम्मिल्ल-मालम्: with a shining hair-garland on a crown bound with peacock feathers
• मायूर-च्छद-बद्ध-मौलि-विलसत्-धम्मिल्ल-मालम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायूर (प्रातिपदिक)+च्छद (प्रातिपदिक)+बन्ध् (धातु)+मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)+लस् (धातु)+धम्मिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)+माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—मायूरच्छदेन बद्धः मौलिः, तस्मिन् विलसत् धम्मिल्लमाला यस्य (तत्पुरुष; ‘with a hair-garland shining on a crown tied with peacock-feathers’)

• चलम्: swaying/moving
• चलम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of previous ornamentation)

• दीप्यत्-कुण्डल-रत्न-रश्मि-विलसत्-गण्ड-द्वय-उद्बासितम्: whose two cheeks are lit by the shining rays of jeweled earrings
• दीप्यत्-कुण्डल-रत्न-रश्मि-विलसत्-गण्ड-द्वय-उद्बासितम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्यत् (कृदन्त from दीप् धातु)+कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)+रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)+रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)+लस् (धातु)+गण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)+द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)+उद्+भास् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दीप्यत्कुण्डलरत्नरश्मिभिः विलसत् गण्डद्वयम् उद्बासितं यस्य (तत्पुरुष; ‘whose two cheeks are illumined by the shining rays of jeweled earrings’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada through descriptive praise)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna-style visualization: by fixing the mind on the Lord’s auspicious form—cloud-dark radiance, lotus-like eyes, and divine ornaments—the devotee gathers attention (ekāgratā) and turns emotion into steady bhakti.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through loving contemplation (smaraṇa/dhyāna) of Bhagavān’s beauty; the sensory imagery is meant to draw the heart away from worldly objects and anchor it in affectionate remembrance of Vishnu/Krishna.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse showcases chandas and alaṅkāra (metrical and poetic craft) used in stotra literature—skills connected with Śikṣā (sound/recitation discipline) and Vyākaraṇa (precise word-formation) for accurate chanting and interpretation.