Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

बालक्रीडो बालरतिर्बालकः कनकांगदी । पीताम्बरो हेममाली मणिमुक्ताविभूषणः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

bālakrīḍo bālaratirbālakaḥ kanakāṃgadī | pītāmbaro hemamālī maṇimuktāvibhūṣaṇaḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Siya’y mapaglaro na parang bata, nalulugod sa larong pambata; nag-aanyong binatilyo, may suot na gintong pulseras sa bisig. Nakadamit ng dilaw, may kuwintas na ginto, at pinalamutian ng mga hiyas at perlas.

Word by Word

• बाल-क्रीडः: childlike player
• बाल-क्रीडः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बालानां क्रीडः/बालवत् क्रीडति = playful like a child)

• बाल-रतिः: childlike delight
• बाल-रतिः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बालानां रतिः/बालवत् रतिः = childlike delight)

• बालकः: a boy/child
• बालकः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कनक-अङ्गदी: wearing golden armlets
• कनक-अङ्गदी: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गदिन्/अङ्गदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कनकस्य अङ्गदं यस्य = wearing golden armlets)

• पीत-अम्बरः: clad in yellow garments
• पीत-अम्बरः: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √पा धातु-क्त, 'yellow') + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पीतम् अम्बरं यस्य = wearing yellow garment)

• हेम-माली: wearing a golden garland
• हेम-माली: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन्/माली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हेममाला यस्य = wearing a golden garland)

• मणि-मुक्ता-विभूषणः: adorned with jewels and pearls
• मणि-मुक्ता-विभूषणः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (मणयः च मुक्ताः च) + तत्पुरुषार्थः (तैः विभूषणः = adorned with jewels and pearls)

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 presents a dhyāna-style vision of Vishnu: the Lord’s childlike playfulness and radiant ornaments guide the devotee to meditate on a compassionate, approachable Supreme Being while maintaining reverence for His divine majesty.

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

By describing Vishnu’s form and qualities, it supports saguna-bhakti—devotion with attributes—where remembrance (smaraṇa) and praise (stuti) of the Lord’s beauty and symbols stabilize the mind and deepen loving surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as a stotra segment suited for disciplined chanting: correct pronunciation and intonation (Śikṣā) and metrical awareness (Chandas) are the practical Vedanga takeaways for effective recitation.