Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

अरुणश्यामले हारमणिकुं डलमंडिते । बलः शंखेंदुधवलो मुशलं लांगलं दधत् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

aruṇaśyāmale hāramaṇikuṃ ḍalamaṃḍite | balaḥ śaṃkheṃdudhavalo muśalaṃ lāṃgalaṃ dadhat || 66 ||

Translation

അദ്ദേഹം അരുണ-ശ്യാമ വർണ്ണൻ; ഹാരവും മണികുണ്ഡലങ്ങളും ധരിച്ച് ശോഭിക്കുന്നു. ശംഖ-ചന്ദ്രസമ ധവളനായ ബലരാമൻ മുഷലവും ലാങ്ഗലവും വഹിക്കുന്നു॥

Word by Word

• aruṇa-śyāmale: in/at the reddish-dark (complexioned one)
• aruṇa-śyāmale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aruṇa + śyāmala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative feminine singular; विशेषण

• hāra-maṇi-kuṇḍala-maṇḍite: adorned with necklace, jewels, and earrings
• hāra-maṇi-kuṇḍala-maṇḍite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hāra + maṇi + kuṇḍala + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative feminine singular; ‘adorned with necklaces, jewels, and earrings’ (instrumental sense within compound)

• balaḥ: Bala (Balarāma)
• balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative masculine singular

• śaṅkha-indu-dhavalaḥ: white like a conch and the moon
• śaṅkha-indu-dhavalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha + indu + dhavala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative masculine singular; विशेषण

• muśalam: a club
• muśalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative neuter singular

• lāṅgalam: a plough
• lāṅgalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative neuter singular

• dadhat: bearing/holding
• dadhat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शतृप्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; present active participle nominative masculine singular

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Balarama

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a dhyāna-style identification: by naming Balarāma’s complexion, ornaments, and emblems (plough and club), it fixes the devotee’s mind on a precise divine form, supporting focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent worship.

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

Bhakti is strengthened through concrete contemplation of the Lord’s associates and forms; meditating on Balarāma’s auspicious marks and weapons trains attention, steadies emotion, and deepens personal devotion to the Vaiṣṇava divine family.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This verse primarily reflects applied ritual-visual knowledge used in worship—how to recognize and visualize a deity’s lakṣaṇas (iconographic markers). It is adjacent to śikṣā/dhyāna-prayoga style precision rather than grammar or astrology.