Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

वल्लभाय ततः पद्मात्रयं तत्वाक्षरो मनुः । मुन्यादिकं च पूर्वोक्तं सिद्धगोपालकं स्मरेत् ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

vallabhāya tataḥ padmātrayaṃ tatvākṣaro manuḥ | munyādikaṃ ca pūrvoktaṃ siddhagopālakaṃ smaret || 86 ||

Translation

ثم لأجل الربّ فَلَّبها (Vallabha) ليتأمّل المرء في ثلاثية اللوتس (padmātraya)، وفي المانترا المؤلَّفة من مقطع «تَتْتْفَ» وفي الـmanu المقرَّر؛ وليتذكّر كذلك الحكماء (muni) وسائر الآلهة المرافقة كما ذُكر سابقًا—وهكذا فليستحضر سِدها-غوبالا (Siddha-Gopāla)، صورة غوبالا المكتملة.

Word by Word

• vallabhāya: to Vallabha (the beloved)
• vallabhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• padma-trayam: the three lotuses
• padma-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास ‘three lotuses’

• tatva-akṣaraḥ: Tatvākṣara (the essential syllable)
• tatva-akṣaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tatva (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) ‘the syllable of reality/essence’ (mantra-name)

• manuḥ: the mantra (manu)
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• muni-ādikam: ‘muni’ and the rest (the following parts)
• muni-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘muni etc.’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pūrva-uktam: previously stated
• pūrva-uktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त, √vac)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘previously said’

• siddha-gopālakam: Siddha-Gopālaka
• siddha-gopālakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + gopālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘the perfected Gopālaka’ (name of mantra/deity)

• smaret: should remember/meditate on
• smaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vallabha
• Gopala
• Vishnu
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It outlines a structured method of devotional recollection—linking lotus-centres (padma-traya), seed-syllable (tattvākṣara), and the received mantra (manu)—so that remembrance of Siddha-Gopāla becomes spiritually effective and ‘perfected’ in practice.

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

Bhakti here is not only emotion but disciplined smaraṇa (remembrance): the devotee meditates on the Lord’s form (Vallabha/Gopāla) together with mantra components and the supporting sacred lineage (ṛṣis/attendants), integrating devotion with correct ritual-mental procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-vidhi used in ritual science—especially nyāsa/dhyāna conventions (placing/visualizing lotus-centres and recalling mantra-seers and associated deities), a technical feature aligned with Vedāṅga-style precision in liturgy and recitation practice.