Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

शशिखण्डधरां वीणां वादयंतीं मधून्मदाम् । रक्तांशुकां च कह्लारमालाशोभितचूलिकाम् ॥ १२९ ॥

Transliteration

śaśikhaṇḍadharāṃ vīṇāṃ vādayaṃtīṃ madhūnmadām | raktāṃśukāṃ ca kahlāramālāśobhitacūlikām || 129 ||

Translation

وہ اسے دیکھے—چاند کا ٹکڑا زیور کی طرح دھارے ہوئے، وینا بجاتی ہوئی، شہد کی مٹھاس سے سرشار؛ سرخ لباس میں، اور کہلار (نیلوفر) کی مالا سے آراستہ چوٹی والی॥۱۲۹॥

Word by Word

• शशिखण्डधराम्: bearing a moon-crescent
• शशिखण्डधराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि-खण्ड-धरा (प्रातिपदिक; components: शशि + खण्ड + धरा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of देवता)

• वीणाम्: a vīṇā (lute)
• वीणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वादयन्तीम्: playing (causing to sound)
• वादयन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वद्/√वाद् (धातु) + वादयत् (णिच्-प्रयोजक वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: णिच् (causative) + शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मधून्: honeys / sweet drinks
• मधून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मदाम्: intoxicated
• मदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of देवता)

• रक्तांशुकाम्: clad in red cloth
• रक्तांशुकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक; components: रक्त + अंशुक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कह्लारमालाशोभितचूलिकाम्: whose topknot is adorned with a kahlāra-garland
• कह्लारमालाशोभितचूलिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कह्लार-माला-शोभित-चूलिका (प्रातिपदिक; components: कह्लार + माला + शोभित (कृदन्त) + चूलिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘कह्लारमालया शोभिता चूलिका यस्याः’ (topknot adorned by a garland of kahlāra-lotuses)

Speaker

Narada (narrative description within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Vina
• Kahlara (blue lotus)

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred aesthetics—moon-ornament, vīṇā-music, lotus-garlands, and red garments—to evoke meditative contemplation (dhyāna) where beauty and sound become supports for devotion and inner steadiness.

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

By portraying a divine presence absorbed in music, it suggests bhakti as loving absorption: the devotee’s mind is drawn to the Lord’s/Deity’s qualities (guṇa) through uplifting forms, symbols, and sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The prominence of the vīṇā and sound points to Śikṣā (phonetics) and chandas/rhythm as practical disciplines—training the voice, tone, and cadence so recitation and musical devotion remain precise and spiritually effective.