Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

दंडांते वा धरावह्निरधीशाढ्योऽथ लोहितः । मेघश्यामपदं पश्चाद्भगवान् सलिलंसदृक् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

daṃḍāṃte vā dharāvahniradhīśāḍhyo'tha lohitaḥ | meghaśyāmapadaṃ paścādbhagavān salilaṃsadṛk || 52 ||

Translation

في طرف العصا (daṇḍa) نارٌ حاملةٌ للأرض؛ ثم تأتي الحمرة الموشّاة بالسيادة. وبعد ذلك يتخذ الربّ (بهاغافان) مقاماً بلونٍ أزرقَ أسودَ كالسحاب، ثم يظهر بعده بلونٍ يشبه الماء.

Word by Word

• दण्ड-अन्ते: at the end of the staff
• दण्ड-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (or)

• धरा-वह्निः: the earth-fire (fire on earth)
• धरा-वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अधीश-आढ्यः: rich in lordship / endowed with sovereignty
• अधीश-आढ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधीश (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• लोहितः: red
• लोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मेघ-श्याम-पदम्: the cloud-dark state/step
• मेघ-श्याम-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'cloud-dark state/step'

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (afterwards)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सलिलम्-सदृक्: resembling water
• सलिलम्-सदृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश्/सदृक् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; सदृक् = 'like'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/technical meditation context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Vishnu/Narayana)

FAQs

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

It outlines a graded contemplation of Bhagavan through symbolic colors and elemental resemblances, training the mind to move from gross supports (fire) to subtler divine appearance (cloud-dark, water-like), stabilizing dhyāna.

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

By giving concrete visual cues—red, cloud-dark, water-like—the verse supports loving remembrance (smaraṇa) of Vishnu/Narayana, making bhakti practical through guided upāsanā rather than abstract thought.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical upāsanā methodology—using precise descriptive markers (varṇa/rūpa-lakṣaṇa) as a disciplined aid to concentration, a common feature in Vedanga-adjacent contemplative and ritual manuals.