Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

उन्निद्रेंदीवरश्यामं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम् । स्निग्धं कुंतलसंभिन्नकिरीटवनमालिनम् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

unnidreṃdīvaraśyāmaṃ padmapatrāyatekṣaṇam | snigdhaṃ kuṃtalasaṃbhinnakirīṭavanamālinam || 96 ||

Translation

அவர் மலர்ந்த நீலத் தாமரையைப் போலச் சியாம நிறமுடையவர்; தாமரை இதழ்போல் நீண்ட கண்களையுடையவர். மினுமினுக்கும் சுருள் கூந்தல் ஓரளவு மூடிய கிரீடம் தரித்து, வனமாலையால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டவர்.

Word by Word

• unnidra-indīvara-śyāmam: dark like a fully-bloomed blue lotus
• unnidra-indīvara-śyāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unnidra (प्रातिपदिक) + indīvara (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (descriptive)

• padma-patra-āyata-īkṣaṇam: having eyes elongated like lotus-petals
• padma-patra-āyata-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + āyata (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; (padmapatra-āyata = 'lotus-leaf-elongated')

• snigdham: lustrous/soft
• snigdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• kuṃtala-saṃbhinna-kirīṭa-vana-mālinam: wearing a crown entwined with curls and a forest-garland
• kuṃtala-saṃbhinna-kirīṭa-vana-mālinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṃtala (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhinna (प्रातिपदिक) + kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + vana-mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; vana-mālin = 'forest-garlanded/with garland'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) of Vishnu—training the mind to hold a pure, auspicious form, which steadies concentration and deepens devotion.

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

By lovingly detailing Vishnu’s beauty (lotus-like eyes, dark-blue radiance, garland, crown), it encourages sāttvika remembrance (smaraṇa) and affectionate contemplation—core practices of Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It supports ritual and mantra practice by supplying a standard dhyāna-image used as a preliminary limb (aṅga) in pūjā and japa—helping correct visualization and focused recitation (a practical aid aligned with śikṣā/ritual procedure).