Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 178

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

दधानां वामपार्श्वस्थैः सर्वाभरणभूषितैः । अंकुशे च तथा शर्क्ति खङ्गं बाणं तथाभयम् ॥ १७८ ॥

Transliteration

dadhānāṃ vāmapārśvasthaiḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaiḥ | aṃkuśe ca tathā śarkti khaṅgaṃ bāṇaṃ tathābhayam || 178 ||

Translation

她以一切饰物庄严，左侧侍从环列；手持钩杖（aṅkuśa），亦持神矛（śakti）、宝剑、箭矢，并结无畏印，赐予不惧。

Word by Word

• दधानाम्: bearing/holding
• दधानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु) → दधान (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), विशेषण (देवीम्)

• वाम-पार्श्व-स्थैः: with (hands) on the left side
• वाम-पार्श्व-स्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त, स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (करैः/हस्तैः implied): 'situated on the left side'

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषितैः: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त, भूष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (करैः/हस्तैः implied): 'adorned with all ornaments'

• अंकुशम्: goad
• अंकुशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंकुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शक्ति: spear/lance
• शक्ति: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• खङ्गम्: sword
• खङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बाणम्: arrow
• बाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अभयम्: fearlessness (gesture/boon)
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अभय-मुद्रा/अभय-प्रदानम् implied)

Speaker

Narada (describing a deity’s iconographic form within the instructional discourse to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Devi (goddess figure described iconographically)

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a dhyāna-style iconographic cue: the weapons signify the removal of obstacles and inner impurities, while the abhaya (fearlessness) indicates divine protection granted to the devotee who approaches with faith and right practice.

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

By detailing the deity’s protective and obstacle-removing attributes, it supports bhakti through concrete visualization and reverent contemplation—devotion is strengthened when the devotee remembers the Lord/Devi as both powerful (weapons) and compassionate (abhaya).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-knowledge used in worship—especially dhyāna (meditative visualization) and iconographic specification that commonly accompanies mantra-prayoga and pūjā-vidhi, aligned with the technical, practice-oriented tone of Book 1.3.