Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

गोपीभिः सुप्रियाभिश्च सेवितां श्वेतचामरैः । रासमंडलमध्यस्थां रत्नसिंहासनस्थिताम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

gopībhiḥ supriyābhiśca sevitāṃ śvetacāmaraiḥ | rāsamaṃḍalamadhyasthāṃ ratnasiṃhāsanasthitām || 39 ||

Translation

പ്രിയ ഗോപിമാർ സേവിക്കുന്നവനും, ശ്വേത ചാമരങ്ങളാൽ വീശപ്പെടുന്നവനും, രാസമണ്ഡലത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നവനും, രത്നസിംഹാസനത്തിൽ വിരാജിക്കുന്നവനുമായ (ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനെ) ധ്യാനിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• गोपीभिः: by/with the gopīs
• गोपीभिः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सुप्रियाभिः: by/with the very dear (ones)
• सुप्रियाभिः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with गोपीभिः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सेविताम्: served/worshipped
• सेविताम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies an implied देवी/मूर्ति etc.

• श्वेतचामरैः: with white yak-tail fans
• श्वेतचामरैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत + चामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चामर), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘श्वेतानि चामराणि’

• रासमण्डलमध्यस्थाम्: standing in the middle of the rāsa-circle
• रासमण्डलमध्यस्थाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रास + मण्डल + मध्य + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासः: ‘रासमण्डलस्य मध्ये स्थिता’

• रत्नसिंहासनस्थिताम्: seated/placed on a jeweled throne
• रत्नसिंहासनस्थिताम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + सिंहासन + स्थित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘रत्नसिंहासने स्थिता’

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic description transmitted within the Narada Purana’s dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopis
• Rasa-mandala

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-visualization of the Lord (as Krishna) in a supreme bhakti setting—centered in the rāsa-maṇḍala—highlighting intimate devotion (mādhurya-bhāva) and reverential service (sevā) as a contemplative aid in worship.

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

Bhakti is shown as loving attendance upon the Lord—service, remembrance, and focused contemplation—where the devotees (gopīs) embody single-pointed affection and the worshipper is guided to meditate on that divine presence and relationship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as a dhyāna/arcana prompt used in ritual practice: it supports correct meditative visualization (upāsanā) and iconographic detail for worship, aligning with technical, practice-oriented instruction typical of the Third Pada’s applied religious sciences.