Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

एतच्छुत्वा वचस्तस्य नारदस्य विधेः सुतः । सनत्कुमारः प्रोवाच ध्यात्वा राधापदांबुजम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

etacchutvā vacastasya nāradasya vidheḥ sutaḥ | sanatkumāraḥ provāca dhyātvā rādhāpadāṃbujam || 6 ||

Translation

നാരദന്റെ ഈ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട ശേഷം, വിധി (ബ്രഹ്മാ)യുടെ പുത്രനായ സനത്കുമാരൻ ശ്രീരാധയുടെ പദാംബുജങ്ങളെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് പിന്നെ പ്രസംഗിച്ചു തുടങ്ങി।

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (pronoun accusative singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वा-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive; prior action)

• वचः: words, speech
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• नारदस्य: of Nārada
• नारदस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• विधेः: of Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक; epithet of Brahmā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• सनत्-कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्-कुमारः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masculine nominative singular; proper name)

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यात्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वा-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive; prior action)

• राधा-पद-अम्बुजम्: Rādhā’s lotus-feet
• राधा-पद-अम्बुजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular; object of ‘ध्यात्वा’)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) introducing Sanatkumara’s reply after Narada speaks

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Brahma (Vidhi)
• Radha

FAQs

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

It shows that authoritative instruction is preceded by śravaṇa (hearing) and dhyāna (meditative recollection), grounding the forthcoming teaching in devotion—here expressed as meditation on Rādhā’s lotus-feet.

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

Bhakti is presented as the inner posture that sanctifies discourse: Sanatkumāra does not speak merely from intellect, but after devotionally meditating, indicating that true teaching flows from remembrance of the divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as a narrative transition rather than a technical Vedanga rule; it highlights the Vedic method of learning—first hearing the teacher’s words (śravaṇa), then contemplation (dhyāna/manana), and only then formal instruction.