Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

राधा कृष्णप्रिया रासेश्वरी गोपीगणाधिपा । निर्गुणा कृष्णपूज्या च मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

rādhā kṛṣṇapriyā rāseśvarī gopīgaṇādhipā | nirguṇā kṛṣṇapūjyā ca mūlaprakṛtirīśvarī || 44 ||

Translation

രാധ കൃഷ്ണപ്രിയ, രാസലീലയുടെ അധീശ്വരി, ഗോപീഗണങ്ങളുടെ അധിപതി. അവൾ ഗുണാതീത; കൃഷ്ണനും അവളെ പൂജിക്കുന്നു; അവൾ മൂലപ്രകൃതിയുടെ ഈശ്വരി.

Word by Word

• राधा: Rādhā
• राधा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृष्ण-प्रिया: beloved of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण-प्रिया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of राधा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘कृष्णस्य प्रिया’

• रास-ईश्वरी: mistress of the rāsa-dance
• रास-ईश्वरी: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Appositive to राधा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रास (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘रासस्य ईश्वरी’

• गोपी-गण-अधिपा: leader of the group of gopīs
• गोपी-गण-अधिपा: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Appositive to राधा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गोपीगणस्य अधिपा’

• निर्गुणा: beyond the guṇas
• निर्गुणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of राधा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृष्ण-पूज्या: worthy of Kṛṣṇa’s worship
• कृष्ण-पूज्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of राधा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘कृष्णेन/कृष्णस्य पूज्या’ (worthy of worship by/for Kṛṣṇa)

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

• मूल-प्रकृतिः: the primordial Nature
• मूल-प्रकृतिः: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Appositive to राधा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘मूला च सा प्रकृतिः’

• ईश्वरी: the Goddess, sovereign lady
• ईश्वरी: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Appositive to राधा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Book 1.3 dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Radha
• Krishna
• Gopis
• Mula-Prakriti
• Ishvari

FAQs

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

It elevates Radha as supreme divine power—beyond the guṇas—and identifies her as the root principle (mūla-prakṛti), presenting Radha-Krishna devotion as grounded in ultimate metaphysics, not merely sentiment.

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

By describing Radha as ‘worshipped by Krishna’ and as ruler of the gopīs, the verse frames bhakti as participation in the highest divine relationship (rāsa-bhāva), where loving devotion is itself a supreme principle honored even by Bhagavan.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this śloka; rather, it supplies doctrinal terminology—nirguṇa and mūla-prakṛti—that supports accurate theological understanding used across ritual and recitation contexts.