Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

लसत्कल्पद्रुमाधस्थरत्नाब्जपीठसंस्थितम् । सुत्रामरत्नसंकाशं गुडस्निग्धालकं शिशुम् ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

lasatkalpadrumādhastharatnābjapīṭhasaṃsthitam | sutrāmaratnasaṃkāśaṃ guḍasnigdhālakaṃ śiśum || 76 ||

Translation

പ്രകാശിക്കുന്ന കല്പവൃക്ഷത്തിന്റെ കീഴിൽ രത്നമയ പദ്മപീഠത്തിൽ ഇരുന്ന ശിശുവിനെ അവൻ കണ്ടു. അവൻ മുത്തുമാലപോലെ ദീപ്തൻ; ശർക്കരപോലെ സ്നിഗ്ധമായ കറുത്ത ചുരുള്മുടിയാൽ ശോഭിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• लसत्: shining
• लसत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; agreeing with implied object (शिशुम्)

• कल्पद्रुम-अधःस्थ-रत्न-अब्ज-पीठ-संस्थितम्: seated on a jewel-lotus pedestal beneath the wish-fulfilling tree
• कल्पद्रुम-अधःस्थ-रत्न-अब्ज-पीठ-संस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पद्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + अधःस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + पीठ (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थित (स्था धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: समासान्त पदम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive. participle) ‘संस्थित’; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies शिशुम्

• सुत्रामरत्न-संकाशम्: resembling the jewel of Sutrāman (Indra)
• सुत्रामरत्न-संकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुत्रामरत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘संकाश’ = सदृश; qualifies शिशुम्

• गुड-स्निग्ध-आलकम्: with glossy curls (like jaggery’s sheen)
• गुड-स्निग्ध-आलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक) + स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘आलक’ = curl/lock; karmadhāraya: “jaggery-smooth (glossy) curls”

• शिशुम्: the child
• शिशुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrative description within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes darśana—an inner or outer vision of the divine—using auspicious imagery (kalpadruma, jeweled lotus-seat, radiant luster) to indicate purity, grace, and the soul’s attraction toward the sacred.

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

By lovingly detailing the deity’s charming form (a radiant child with glossy curls), it models bhakti as attentive contemplation and affectionate remembrance, where devotion grows through vivid, reverent visualization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it supports śikṣā and chandas-oriented recitation practice: the verse is crafted for clear phonetic flow and evocative imagery, useful for memorization, chanting, and meditative focus even within a technical (Vedāṅga) context.