Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

सुबद्धोलूखले नम्रशिरा गोपीकदर्थितः । वृक्षभंगी शोकभंगी धनदात्मजमोक्षणः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

subaddholūkhale namraśirā gopīkadarthitaḥ | vṛkṣabhaṃgī śokabhaṃgī dhanadātmajamokṣaṇaḥ || 51 ||

Translation

ഉലൂഖലത്തിൽ ദൃഢമായി ബന്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ടവൻ, വിനയത്തോടെ തലകുനിഞ്ഞവൻ, ഗോപിമാരാൽ ശാസിക്കപ്പെട്ടവൻ—വൃക്ഷഭംഗി, ശോകഭംഗി, ധനദൻ (കുബേരൻ) പുത്രന്മാരെ മോചിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ।

Word by Word

• सु-बद्धः: well bound
• सु-बद्धः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + बद्ध (कृदन्त; √बन्ध् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—क्त; ‘सु’ उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद (well)

• उलूखले: in/at the mortar
• उलूखले: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूखल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• नम्र-शिराः: with head bowed
• नम्र-शिराः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (नम्रं शिरो यस्य = having bowed head)

• गोपी-कदर्थितः: rebuked by the gopīs
• गोपी-कदर्थितः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक) + कदर्थित (कृदन्त; √अर्थ्/कदर्थय् धातु-प्रयोगः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपीभिः कदर्थितः = reproached/harassed by the gopīs); कृदन्तः—क्त

• वृक्ष-भंगी: breaker of the trees
• वृक्ष-भंगी: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्गिन्/भङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृक्षाणां भङ्गी/भङ्गकर्ता)

• शोक-भंगी: remover of sorrow
• शोक-भंगी: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्गिन्/भङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शोकस्य भङ्गकर्ता = remover of sorrow)

• धनद-आत्मज-मोक्षणः: liberator of Kubera’s sons
• धनद-आत्मज-मोक्षणः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनद (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धनदस्य आत्मजयोः मोक्षणः = liberator of Kubera's sons)

Speaker

Narada (as part of the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Gopis
• Kubera (Dhanada)
• Nalakuvara
• Manigriva

FAQs

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

It presents a compact dhyāna-style set of epithets for Krishna (Damodara), showing that even His childlike pastimes—being bound, corrected, and acting within human-like limits—are divine means for destroying devotees’ sorrow and granting liberation.

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

By praising Krishna through specific līlā-nāmas (names rooted in pastimes), it promotes bhakti via nāma-smaraṇa and līlā-smaraṇa: loving remembrance of the Lord’s humility, accessibility, and grace that culminates in removing grief and giving moksha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as a structured nāma-string useful for recitation (prayoga), illustrating the Vyākaraṇa-informed formation of compound epithets (samāsa) and their application in devotional chanting within Narada Purana-style worship.