Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

शिक्षावेषधरं कृष्णं किंकिणीजालशोभितम् । ध्यात्वा प्रतर्पयेन्मंत्री दुग्धबुद्ध्या शुभैर्जलैः ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

śikṣāveṣadharaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ kiṃkiṇījālaśobhitam | dhyātvā pratarpayenmaṃtrī dugdhabuddhyā śubhairjalaiḥ || 140 ||

Translation

Nachdem man über Kṛṣṇa meditiert hat, der die Gestalt der Śikṣā (Vedāṅga der Lautlehre) trägt und mit einem Netz kleiner Glöckchen geschmückt ist, soll der mantra-kundige Opfernde das Sättigungsritual vollziehen, indem er glückverheißendes Wasser darbringt und es im Geist als Milch betrachtet.

Word by Word

• शिक्षा-वेष-धरम्: wearing the guise of a student/learner
• शिक्षा-वेष-धरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिक्षायाः वेषं धरति इति)

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• किंकिणी-जाल-शोभितम्: adorned with a net/cluster of bells
• किंकिणी-जाल-शोभितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंकिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (किंकिणीनां जालेन शोभितम्)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (on)
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having meditated)

• प्रतर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer (oblations)
• प्रतर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘to satisfy/offer oblation’ (प्र-तर्पयति)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• दुग्ध-बुद्ध्या: with the notion (that it is) milk
• दुग्ध-बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दुग्धस्य बुद्धिः/भावना—‘as milk’)

• शुभैः: auspicious/pure
• शुभैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘jalaiḥ’)

• जलैः: with waters
• जलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion and ritual efficacy depend on dhyāna (focused contemplation) and bhāvanā (inner intention): even simple pure water can become a sacred offering when mentally offered as milk to Kṛṣṇa.

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

Bhakti is expressed through meditative visualization of Kṛṣṇa and reverent offering; the verse emphasizes heartfelt intention over material abundance, aligning ritual action with loving remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/pronunciation) is invoked symbolically—linking correct mantra-recitation and disciplined ritual practice with a deity-form, showing how Vedāṅga expertise supports worship and mantra-prayoga.