Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

गंगा मधुमती चैव सुन्दरी चन्दना सती । अपर्णा मनसानन्दा द्वात्रिंशद्राधिकाप्रियाः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgā madhumatī caiva sundarī candanā satī | aparṇā manasānandā dvātriṃśadrādhikāpriyāḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Gaṅgā, Madhumatī, Sundarī, Candanā, Satī, Aparṇā dan Manasānandā—itulah nama-nama; dan semuanya dikasihi oleh Rādhikā. Maka senarai ini berlanjut hingga tiga puluh dua semuanya.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper name

• मधुमती: Madhumatī
• मधुमती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper name (‘honey-sweet’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• सुन्दरी: Sundarī
• सुन्दरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper name (‘beautiful one’)

• चन्दना: Candanā
• चन्दना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper name (‘sandal’)

• सती: Satī
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper name (‘virtuous one’)

• अपर्णा: Aparṇā
• अपर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper name

• मनसानन्दा: Manasānandā
• मनसानन्दा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनसा+आनन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘joy of the mind’ as proper name

• द्वात्रिंशद्राधिकाप्रियाः: the thirty-two dear-to-Rādhikā (ones)
• द्वात्रिंशद्राधिकाप्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वात्रिंशत्+राधिकाप्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘dear to Rādhikā (in number) thirty-two’—name/epithet group; ending -प्रियाः indicates plural feminine nominative

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse functions as a recitation/listing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Radhika

FAQs

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

This verse functions as part of a nāma-list (name-garland): remembering and reciting these sacred epithets is presented as a devotional practice that sanctifies the mind and aligns the practitioner with divine grace, here framed as being “dear to Rādhikā.”

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

Bhakti is expressed here through nāma-smaraṇa—reverent remembrance and recitation of divine-associated names. Such ordered name-lists are commonly used as stotra/japa aids, making devotion practical, repeatable, and mind-purifying.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a technical use of language typical of mantra/stotra compilation—structured enumeration (dvātriṃśat, “thirty-two”) and precise name-recitation, relevant to Vedāṅga concerns like correct pronunciation and textual arrangement (śikṣā and vyākaraṇa in practice).