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

وہ پوری طرح کھلے نیلے کنول کی مانند سیاہ فام تھا، اور کنول کی پنکھڑیوں جیسے دراز نینوں والا۔ چمکدار گھنگریالے بالوں سے جزوی طور پر ڈھکا تاج پہنے، اور جنگلی پھولوں کی مالا سے آراستہ تھا۔

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).