Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 107

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

दधानां बाहुभिर्वामैः कह्लारं हेमश्रृंगकम् । पुष्पेषुं मातुलिंगं च दधानां दक्षिणैः करैः ॥ १०७ ॥

Transliteration

dadhānāṃ bāhubhirvāmaiḥ kahlāraṃ hemaśrṛṃgakam | puṣpeṣuṃ mātuliṃgaṃ ca dadhānāṃ dakṣiṇaiḥ karaiḥ || 107 ||

Translation

وہ اپنے بائیں بازوؤں میں کہلار کنول اور سونے کے سینگ والا نشان تھامتی ہے؛ اور دائیں ہاتھوں میں پھولوں کا تیر اور ماتولِنگ (بیجپورک) کا پھل رکھتی ہے ॥۱۰۷॥

Word by Word

• dadhānām: bearing/holding
• dadhānām: Karta (कर्ता) — describing the agent (she)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhā (धा) धातु; वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘dadhāna’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदी; स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (plural) — agreeing with implied देवीम्/शक्तिम्

• bāhubhiḥ: with (her) arms
• bāhubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) — instrument/means
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (बाहु) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• vāmaiḥ: left
• vāmaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (वाम) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — bāhubhiḥ/karaiḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kahlāram: a blue lotus
• kahlāram: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: kahlāra (कह्लार) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• hemaśrṛṅgakam: a golden horn/pointed ornament
• hemaśrṛṅgakam: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (हेम) + śrṛṅgaka (श्रृंगक) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हेमस्य श्रृंगकम्)

• puṣpeṣum: a flower-arrow
• puṣpeṣum: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (पुष्प) + iṣu (इषु) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पाणाम् इषुः)

• mātuliṅgam: a citron fruit
• mātuliṅgam: Karma (कर्म) — object held
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātuliṅga (मातुलिंग) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — coordination
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च) अव्यय
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dadhānām: bearing/holding
• dadhānām: Karta (कर्ता) — describing the agent (she)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhā (धा) धातु; वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘dadhāna’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदी; स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — agreeing with implied देवीम्/शक्तिम्

• dakṣiṇaiḥ: right
• dakṣiṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (दक्षिण) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — karaiḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• karaiḥ: with (her) hands
• karaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) — instrument/means
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (कर) प्रातिपदिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (in a descriptive, instructional narration within the dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It teaches dhyāna through iconographic precision: the deity’s held symbols are not decorative, but contemplative cues (ālambana) that focus the mind and invoke specific powers—purity (lotus), auspicious splendor (golden emblem), devotional attraction (flower-arrow), and nourishment/blessing (citron).

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

Bhakti is strengthened by concrete remembrance (smaraṇa) and visualization (dhyāna). By meditating on the deity’s attributes as described, a devotee turns attention from distraction to loving, steady worship with a clear mental form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—how accurate form-description supports upāsanā and pūjā procedures (a practical, technical layer often paired with mantra and nyāsa), aligning worship with prescribed lakṣaṇa (defining marks).