Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

महालीला प्रकृष्टा च नागरी नगचारिणी । नित्यमाघूर्णिता पूर्णा कस्तूरीतिलकान्विता ॥ १४२ ॥

Transliteration

mahālīlā prakṛṣṭā ca nāgarī nagacāriṇī | nityamāghūrṇitā pūrṇā kastūrītilakānvitā || 142 ||

Translation

ସେ ମହାଲୀଳାରେ ପ୍ରକୃଷ୍ଟ ଓ ଅତ୍ୟୁତ୍କୃଷ୍ଟ; ନାଗରୀ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ନଗମାନେ ଚରଣ କରେ। ସେ ନିତ୍ୟ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ଘୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ, ସର୍ବଥା ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣା, ଏବଂ ଲଲାଟେ କସ୍ତୂରୀ-ତିଳକଧାରିଣୀ।

Word by Word

• महालीला: of great play
• महालीला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती लीला)

• प्रकृष्टा: excellent, eminent
• प्रकृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृष्ट (कृदन्त; कृष् धातु with प्र)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘प्रकृष्ट’

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

• नागरी: a refined lady
• नागरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नागर-स्त्री’ (city-bred lady)

• नगचारिणी: roaming the mountains/woods
• नगचारिणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नग (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; from चर् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नगे चरति इति—one who roams in the hills/forest)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आघूर्णिता: whirling, swaying
• आघूर्णिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + घूर्णित (कृदन्त; घूर्ण्/घूर्ण् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘आघूर्णित’ (whirled/turned about)

• पूर्णा: full, complete
• पूर्णा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (कृदन्त; पॄ/पूर् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘पूर्ण’

• कस्तूरीतिलकान्विता: adorned with a musk tilaka
• कस्तूरीतिलकान्विता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कस्तूरी (प्रातिपदिक) + तिलक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; अन्वि/इ धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘अन्वित’; तत्पुरुष (कस्तूरी-तिलकेन अन्विता)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It uses devotional visualization—ornament, movement, and auspicious marks—to fix the mind steadily on the deity’s auspicious form, a key method for cultivating bhakti through remembrance (smaraṇa).

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

By giving vivid, auspicious attributes (tilaka, completeness, graceful motion), the verse supports loving contemplation and recitation, turning aesthetic description into a practical bhakti discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects chandas/alankāra usage—compact, rhythmic description suited to oral recitation—showing how poetic structure aids memorization and devotional chanting in Purāṇic practice.