Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 184

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

Devanagari script

स्तनकुभी नराढ्या च क्षीणापुण्या यशस्वनी । वैराजसूयजननी श्रीशा भुवनमोहिनी ॥ १८४ ॥

Transliteration

stanakubhī narāḍhyā ca kṣīṇāpuṇyā yaśasvanī | vairājasūyajananī śrīśā bhuvanamohinī || 184 ||

Translation

അവൾ സ്തനകുംഭങ്ങളാൽ ശോഭിത, നരസമൂഹത്താൽ അലങ്കൃത; പുണ്യം ക്ഷീണിച്ചാലും യശസ്വിനി. അവൾ വൈരാജ-സൂയ നൃപന്മാരുടെ ജനനി, ശ്രീയുടെ അധീശ്വരി, ഭുവനമോഹിനി.

Word by Word

• स्तनकुभी: having (prominent) breasts (lit. breast-‘kumbhī’/rounded)
• स्तनकुभी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तन + कुभी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (स्तन-कुभी)

• नराढ्या: abounding in men/attendants
• नराढ्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर + आढ्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; आढ्या = ‘rich/abounding’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• क्षीणापुण्या: whose merit is diminished (or: with diminished sin/merit)
• क्षीणापुण्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीणा + पुण्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (क्षीणा पुण्या = ‘diminished merit’ as epithet)

• यशस्वनी: famous, glorious
• यशस्वनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन्/यशस्वनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यशस्विन्-प्रातिपदिकस्य स्त्रीरूपम्

• वैराजसूयजननी: mother of Vairājasūya
• वैराजसूयजननी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराज + सूय + जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वैराजसूयस्य जननी)

• श्रीशा: mistress of Śrī (prosperity)
• श्रीशा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + ईशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (श्रियाः ईशा = mistress of prosperity)

• भुवनमोहिनी: enchantress of the worlds
• भुवनमोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुवन + मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; मोहिनी = ‘enchantress’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Sri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

The verse strings together epithets to portray a power that fascinates the world—externally glorious and socially celebrated, yet spiritually unstable when merit (puṇya) is depleted—warning that fame and allure are not equal to enduring dharma.

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

By contrasting worldly splendour and renown with the loss of puṇya, it indirectly points bhakti toward what remains inexhaustible—devotion to the Supreme—rather than attachment to enchanting but transient worldly glamour.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Nirukta/Vyākaraṇa-style handling of compounds and epithets (e.g., vairāja-sūya-jananī), training the reader to parse technical Sanskrit formations used in Purāṇic catalogues and doctrinal summaries.