Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

भिन्नर्गलः भिन्नलोहः पितृबाह्यः पितृस्तुतः । मातृस्तुतः शिवध्येयो यमुनाजलभेदनः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

bhinnargalaḥ bhinnalohaḥ pitṛbāhyaḥ pitṛstutaḥ | mātṛstutaḥ śivadhyeyo yamunājalabhedanaḥ || 38 ||

Translation

هو كاسرُ الأقفال، شاقُّ الحديد؛ متعالٍ عن منال الـPitṛ (الآباء الأسلاف) ومع ذلك يمدحونه؛ وتمجّده الـMātṛ (الأمهات الإلهيات)؛ يُتأمَّل فيه كـ«شِڤا»؛ وهو الذي يشقّ مياه يَمُنا.

Word by Word

• भिन्न-अर्गलः: one whose bolt/obstruction is broken
• भिन्न-अर्गलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) ; अर्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘भिन्ना अर्गला यस्य’ (name)

• भिन्नलोहः: one who breaks iron / whose iron is broken
• भिन्नलोहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) ; लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘भिन्नं लोहं यस्य’ (name)

• पितृबाह्यः: one beyond the ancestors (epithet)
• पितृबाह्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘पितॄन् बाह्यति/बाह्यः’ (name; sense: surpassing/going beyond fathers/ancestors)

• पितृस्तुतः: praised by the ancestors
• पितृस्तुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘पितृभिः स्तुतः’ (praised by the fathers/ancestors)

• मातृस्तुतः: praised by the mothers
• मातृस्तुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मातृभिः स्तुतः’ (praised by the mothers)

• शिवध्येयः: meditated upon by Śiva / worthy of meditation
• शिवध्येयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्येय (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘शिवेन ध्येयः’/‘शिवं ध्येयः’ (fit to be meditated upon by Śiva / as Śiva)

• यमुनाजलभेदनः: splitter of the Yamunā’s waters
• यमुनाजलभेदनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + भेदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘यमुनायाः जलस्य भेदनः’ (splitter of Yamunā’s waters)

Speaker

Narada (stotra-style recital within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Matrs
• Shiva
• Yamuna

FAQs

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

The verse presents protective and liberating epithets: the deity is described as breaking restraints and overcoming hard obstacles, transcending ancestral limitation while still being honored by Pitṛs and Mātṛs, and as a focus of auspicious meditation—pointing to purification and liberation.

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

It models Bhakti through nāma-recitation and contemplation: praising the Lord by names, meditating on His auspicious form (śivadhyeya), and trusting His power to remove inner and outer bonds—core devotional attitudes emphasized in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is the stotra/nāma method—structured epithets used for japa and recitation, aligning with Vyākaraṇa-based precision of names and accents in chanting, and with ritual application for protection and purification.