Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 139

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

श्यामां चित्रविभूषाढ्यां पद्मस्थां तुंगसुस्तनीम् । नीलांबुजद्वयं शालिमंजरीं च शुक्रं करैः ॥ १३९ ॥

Transliteration

śyāmāṃ citravibhūṣāḍhyāṃ padmasthāṃ tuṃgasustanīm | nīlāṃbujadvayaṃ śālimaṃjarīṃ ca śukraṃ karaiḥ || 139 ||

Translation

அவளைத் தியானிக்க வேண்டும்—கருநிறத் திருமேனி, அழகிய பலவகை ஆபரணங்களால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டவள், தாமரையில் அமர்ந்தவள், உயர்ந்த அழகிய மார்பகங்களையுடையவள்; கைகளில் இரண்டு நீலத் தாமரைகள், நெற்பயிர் கதிர், மேலும் ஒளிவிடும் வெண்மையான பொருளைத் தாங்கியவள்.

Word by Word

• śyāmām: dark-complexioned (female)
• śyāmām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana

• citra-vibhūṣā-āḍhyām: richly adorned with splendid ornaments
• citra-vibhūṣā-āḍhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifier of object/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; samāsa: citra-vibhūṣā (variegated ornaments) + āḍhyā (richly endowed)

• padma-sthām: seated on a lotus
• padma-sthām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; samāsa: padma-sthā = ‘standing/placed on a lotus’

• tuṅga-su-stanīm: with high and beautiful breasts
• tuṅga-su-stanīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + su (उपसर्ग/avyaya) + stanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: tuṅga (high) + su-stanī (well-breasted)

• nīla-ambuja-dvayam: a pair of blue lotuses
• nīla-ambuja-dvayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; samāsa: nīla-ambuja (blue lotus) + dvaya (pair)

• śāli-maṃjarīm: a cluster of paddy (rice ear)
• śāli-maṃjarīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāli (प्रातिपदिक) + maṃjarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; samāsa: śāli-maṃjarī = ‘a rice-ear/cluster of paddy’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• śukram: brightness/white radiance (or ‘Śukra’)
• śukram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• karaiḥ: with (her) hands
• karaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada a dhyāna/iconographic detail for ritual application)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess figure implied by iconography)

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna-śloka: a precise visualization that steadies the mind and makes worship effective by fixing the deity’s form, symbols, and auspicious attributes.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and meditation (dhyāna): the devotee contemplates the deity’s compassionate, auspicious form and approaches worship with reverence and inner concentration.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical application is emphasized—using standardized iconographic markers (lotus-seat, hand-held emblems) to support correct upāsanā and pūjā, aligning visualization with mantra and procedure.