Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

समुद्धूसरोरस्थले धेनुधूल्या सुपुष्टांगमष्टापदाकल्पदीप्तम् । कटीलस्थले चारुजंघान्तयुग्मं पिनद्धं क्वणत्किंकिणीजालदाम्ना ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

samuddhūsarorasthale dhenudhūlyā supuṣṭāṃgamaṣṭāpadākalpadīptam | kaṭīlasthale cārujaṃghāntayugmaṃ pinaddhaṃ kvaṇatkiṃkiṇījāladāmnā || 78 ||

Translation

गायींच्या उडालेल्या धुळीने त्याचे वक्षस्थळ किंचित धूसर झाले होते; त्याचे सुदृढ अंग शुद्ध सुवर्णासारखे झळकत होते। कटीवर जंघांच्या टोकापर्यंत किणकिण्यांच्या जाळीची मेखला बांधलेली होती, जी मधुर नाद करीत होती।

Word by Word

• समुद्धूसर-उरःस्थले: on the dust-grey chest area
• समुद्धूसर-उरःस्थले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्धूसर (धूसर/धूस् धातु-निष्पन्न, प्रातिपदिक) + उरःस्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location): “on the chest-region made dusty/greyish”

• धेनु-धूल्या: by the dust raised by cows
• धेनु-धूल्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + धूलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument): “by cow-dust”

• सु-पुष्ट-अङ्गम्: with well-nourished limbs/body
• सु-पुष्ट-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + पुष्ट (पुष् धातु, क्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; “well-nourished-bodied”

• अष्टापद-आकल्प-दीप्तम्: shining with an aṭṭāpada-like ornamentation
• अष्टापद-आकल्प-दीप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टापद (प्रातिपदिक) + आकल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप्त (दीप् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; “shining like/with an aṭṭāpada-ornament (gold/jewelled pattern)”

• कटील-स्थले: at the waist area
• कटील-स्थले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण: “at the waist-region”

• चारु-जङ्घ-अन्त-युग्मम्: the lovely pair of lower legs
• चारु-जङ्घ-अन्त-युग्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; “pair of beautiful lower-legs/ends of the shanks” (object described)

• पिनद्धम्: fastened
• पिनद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पि-नह्/नध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; “fastened/bound”

• क्वणत्: tinkling
• क्वणत्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्वण् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन (instrumental sense with dāmnā); modifies kiṃkiṇī-jāla

• किंकिणी-जाल-दाम्ना: by a cord of tinkling anklet-bells
• किंकिणी-जाल-दाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + दामन्/दाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण: “by a cord/garland of a net of anklet-bells”

Speaker

Narada (describing an auspicious divine form within a technical/iconographic passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Dhenu (cows)

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-style visualization: sacred cow-dust and luminous, orderly ornaments signify purity, auspiciousness, and a mind trained to contemplate divinity through precise marks (lakṣaṇa).

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

By describing tangible, auspicious features (radiance, adornment, gentle sound), it supports bhakti through focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and inner visualization, turning sensory imagery into devotional concentration.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with technical lakṣaṇa/śilpa-style description—systematic observation of form and attributes used for dhyāna and correct representation, a practical tool adjacent to Vedāṅga-oriented disciplines in the Third Pāda.