Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

गृहीतकामिनीरूपो नित्यं रासिविलासकृत् । वल्लवीजनसंगोप्ता वल्लवीजनवल्लभः ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhītakāminīrūpo nityaṃ rāsivilāsakṛt | vallavījanasaṃgoptā vallavījanavallabhaḥ || 121 ||

Translation

അവൻ പ്രിയ കാമിനിയുടെ രൂപം ധരിച്ചു നിത്യം രാസവിലാസം നടത്തുന്നു; ഗോപികാസമൂഹത്തിന്റെ സംരക്ഷകനും ഗോപികമാരുടെ പരമപ്രിയ വല്ലഭനും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• gṛhīta-kāminī-rūpaḥ: having taken a beloved-woman’s form
• gṛhīta-kāminī-rūpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (कृदन्त from √grah ग्रहणे, क्त) + kāminī (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘having assumed/taken the form of a kāminī (beloved woman)’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• rāsi-vilāsa-kṛt: performer of the rāsa-play
• rāsi-vilāsa-kṛt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāsi (प्रातिपदिक; here ‘rāsa’) + vilāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √kṛ करणे, कृत्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kṛt-ending agent noun ‘doer/maker’

• vallavī-jana-saṃgoptā: protector of the cowherd women
• vallavī-jana-saṃgoptā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vallavī (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgoptṛ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √gup रक्षणे with sam-, तृच्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agent noun ‘protector’

• vallavī-jana-vallabhaḥ: beloved of the cowherd women
• vallavī-jana-vallabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vallavī (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘beloved of the cowherd women’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Gopis (Vallavis)

FAQs

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

It presents Bhagavan’s intimate līlā as a revelation of supreme love (prema): the Lord freely assumes forms to reciprocate with devotees, while remaining their protector and inner refuge.

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

By highlighting Krishna as the gopīs’ beloved and guardian, the verse teaches bhakti as personal, affectionate surrender—where the devotee seeks closeness to the Lord, and the Lord actively nurtures and protects that devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily nirukta/semantic insight: key devotional epithets (saṃgoptā, vallabhaḥ, rāsa-vilāsa-kṛt) function as technical name-meanings used in stotra, japa, and pūjā to contemplate Krishna’s līlā and protective grace.