Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

शखचक्रधनुर्बाणपाशांकुशधरारुणम् । दोर्भ्यां धृतं धमंतं च वेणुं कृष्णदिवाकरम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śakhacakradhanurbāṇapāśāṃkuśadharāruṇam | dorbhyāṃ dhṛtaṃ dhamaṃtaṃ ca veṇuṃ kṛṣṇadivākaram || 7 ||

Translation

ذو حمرةٍ خفيفة، يحمل الصدفة والقرص والقوس والسهام والحبل والخطّاف؛ وبذراعيه يمسك نايًا ينفخ فيه—فيبدو كـ«شمسٍ سوداء»، كريشنا-ديفاكارا العجيب.

Word by Word

• śaṅkha-cakra-dhanuḥ-bāṇa-pāśa-aṅkuśa-dhara-aruṇam: reddish one bearing conch, discus, bow, arrow, noose, and goad
• śaṅkha-cakra-dhanuḥ-bāṇa-pāśa-aṅkuśa-dhara-aruṇam: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa of implied deity-form
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanuḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक) + aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘शङ्ख-चक्र-धनुः-बाण-पाश-अङ्कुशान् धरः’ (bearer of conch, discus, bow, arrow, noose, goad) + ‘अरुण’ (reddish) as qualifier

• dorbhyām: with (two) arms
• dorbhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual); ‘with (two) arms’

• dhṛtam: held
• dhṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, PPP) from √धृ (to hold); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with veṇum)

• dhamantam: blowing
• dhamantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dham (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle) from √धम् (to blow); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with implied agent, e.g., Kṛṣṇa)

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

• veṇum: flute
• veṇum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-divākaram: Kṛṣṇa, the sun-like one (epithet)
• kṛṣṇa-divākaram: Karma (कर्म) / Apposition to veṇum-holder
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + divākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘कृष्णः दिवाकरः इव’ / ‘कृष्ण-नामकः दिवाकरः’ (Kṛṣṇa, the sun-like one) used as epithet

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, describing the deity for contemplation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It prescribes a concrete dhyāna-image of the Lord: a paradoxical, all-powerful form (weapons and implements) that is simultaneously intimate and grace-filled (playing the flute), aiding one-pointed devotion and inner steadiness.

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

By giving a vivid, name-and-form (nāma-rūpa) focus for remembrance—Vishnu as Krishna—so the mind can repeatedly return to the Lord’s attributes, which is a practical method of bhakti through constant contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Murti-lakṣaṇa and dhyāna-prayoga (technical rules for describing and visualizing a deity-form) are implied—an applied, systematic way of defining form, attributes, and symbolism for ritual and meditation use.