Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

गोपिकाकृतसंनीलो गोपिकासंस्मृतप्रियः । गोपिकावन्दितपदो गोपिकावशवर्तनः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

gopikākṛtasaṃnīlo gopikāsaṃsmṛtapriyaḥ | gopikāvanditapado gopikāvaśavartanaḥ || 74 ||

Translation

ଗୋପୀମାନଙ୍କ ଅଳଙ୍କାରରେ ଯିଏ ଅଧିକ ଘନ ନୀଳବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହୋଇଉଠନ୍ତି; ଗୋପୀମାନେ ସ୍ମରଣ କଲେ ଯିଏ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ରିୟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି; ଯାହାଙ୍କ ପଦ ଗୋପୀମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ବନ୍ଦିତ; ଏବଂ ଯିଏ ଗୋପୀମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରେମବଶେ ବିଚରଣ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• गोपिकाकृतसंनीलः: made dark-blue by a gopī
• गोपिकाकृतसंनीलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-कृत-संनील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘कृत’ = कृदन्त (क्त, √कृ) (गोपिकया कृतः संनीलः = नीलवर्णः कृतः)

• गोपिकासंस्मृतप्रियः: dear when remembered by the gopī / fond of being remembered by the gopī
• गोपिकासंस्मृतप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-संस्मृत-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘संस्मृत’ = कृदन्त (क्त, √स्मृ उपसर्ग सम्) (गोपिकया संस्मृतः प्रियः / गोपिकासंस्मरणे प्रियः)

• गोपिकावन्दितपदः: whose feet are worshipped by the gopī
• गोपिकावन्दितपदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-वन्दित-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘वन्दित’ = कृदन्त (क्त, √वन्द्) (गोपिकया वन्दितं पदं यस्य)

• गोपिकावशवर्तनः: one who acts under the gopī’s control
• गोपिकावशवर्तनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका-वश-वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपिकायाः वशे वर्तनः = अधीनवर्ती)

Speaker

Narada (in a stotra-style description of Vishnu/Krishna within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Gopikas

FAQs

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

It highlights Bhagavan’s bhakta-vātsalya: the Lord willingly accepts the devotees’ love, even appearing “adorned” and “led” by the gopīs, showing devotion’s supremacy over mere power.

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

It emphasizes smaraṇa (loving remembrance) and pāda-sevā/arcana (worship of the Lord’s feet): when devotion is intimate and selfless like the gopīs’, the Lord becomes “priya” and responsive to the devotee’s love.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as stotra-style nāma-vākya usage—showing precise compound formation (Vyākaraṇa) and devotional application of remembrance (smṛti/smaraṇa) as a practical discipline, rather than a ritual-technical instruction.