Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरश्च कृष्णाय कामरुद्धस्तथा परः । गोपालायाग्निजायांतो रसवर्णः प्रकीर्तितः ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

paṃcākṣaraśca kṛṣṇāya kāmaruddhastathā paraḥ | gopālāyāgnijāyāṃto rasavarṇaḥ prakīrtitaḥ || 90 ||

Translation

المانترا ذات الخمسة مقاطع هي «kṛṣṇāya». ومانترا أخرى يُعتقد أنها تكبح الشهوة تُعلَن أسمى. أمّا الصيغة التي تنتهي بـ«gopālāya» وتُختَم بـ«agnijāyānta» فتُروى بوصفها تقليد «حرف الرَّسا»؛ أي الفونيم السرّي المرموز.

Word by Word

• pañca-akṣaraḥ: five-syllabled
• pañca-akṣaraḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘pañca akṣarāṇi yasya’ (five-syllabled)

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

• kṛṣṇāya: to Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• kāma-ruddhaḥ: kāma-blocked (technical)
• kāma-ruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + ruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘kāmena ruddhaḥ’ (checked/blocked by ‘kāma’—technical)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (तथा = likewise)

• paraḥ: another / further
• paraḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gopālāya: to Gopāla
• gopālāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• agni-jāyā-antaḥ: ending with ‘svāhā’ (agni’s wife)
• agni-jāyā-antaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni + jāyā + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (technical): ‘agni-jāyā’ (Svāhā) + anta = ending with (svāhā)

• rasa-varṇaḥ: the ‘rasa’ letter (technical)
• rasa-varṇaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rasa + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘rasasya varṇaḥ’ (rasa-letter; technical)

• prakīrtitaḥ: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (कीर्त् धातु) + pra + kta (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical mantra/vedanga context, in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gopala

FAQs

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

It classifies specific Krishna-centered mantras by syllable-count and function, emphasizing that correctly formed sacred sound (akṣara/varṇa) is a direct means for inner restraint and higher devotion.

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

By highlighting mantras addressed to Kṛṣṇa/Gopāla, it frames bhakti as practiced through disciplined remembrance and recitation—devotion expressed as precise, tradition-guided sacred speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā/mantra-śāstra: attention to akṣara (syllables), varṇa (phonemes), and prescribed endings of mantra-forms—showing how phonetic structure is treated as technically meaningful in ritual and japa.