Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

श्रीशक्तिस्मरपूर्वोगजन्मा शक्तिरमांतिकः । दशाक्षरः स एवादौ प्रोक्तः शक्तिरमायुतः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śrīśaktismarapūrvogajanmā śaktiramāṃtikaḥ | daśākṣaraḥ sa evādau proktaḥ śaktiramāyutaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

Jenes Mantra entsteht aus der vorausgehenden Vereinigung von erinnernder Versenkung (smaraṇa) und Śrī-Śakti; es ist die Śakti, die Ramā (Lakṣmī) nahe ist. Es ist eben jenes zehnsilbige Mantra, das zuerst gelehrt wurde — Śakti, mit Ramā verbunden.

Word by Word

• श्रीशक्ति-स्मर-पूर्व-ओग-जन्मा: whose origin is preceded by remembrance of Śrīśakti and prior yoga
• श्रीशक्ति-स्मर-पूर्व-ओग-जन्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīśakti + smara + pūrva + oga + janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन (sg); बहुव्रीहि: 'yasya janma (utpattiḥ) śrīśakti-smara-pūrva-oga- (pūrvayoga) iti' (having origin preceded by remembrance of Śrīśakti and prior yoga)

• शक्ति-रमा-अन्तिकः: associated with Śakti and Ramā
• शक्ति-रमा-अन्तिकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti + ramā + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'śaktyā ramāyā ca antikaḥ' (near/associated with Śakti and Ramā)

• दश-अक्षरः: ten-syllabled
• दश-अक्षरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन (sg); द्विगु: 'ten-syllabled'

• सः: he/that (mantra)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन (sg)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Deśa-kāla-adhikaraṇa (देश-काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययप्रयोग (locative used adverbially)

• प्रोक्तः: was taught/declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन (sg)

• शक्ति-रमा-युतः: endowed with Śakti and Ramā
• शक्ति-रमा-युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti + ramā + yuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (nom), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'śaktyā ramayā ca yutaḥ' (endowed/combined with Śakti and Ramā)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara lineage teachings on mantra-vidya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Sri
• Rama (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It frames mantra as arising from disciplined remembrance (smara/smaraṇa) and yogic union, emphasizing that true efficacy is rooted in Śrī-Śakti and closeness to Ramā (Lakṣmī)—i.e., auspicious divine power rather than mere recitation.

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

By highlighting smara (remembrance) as the prerequisite, it aligns mantra-practice with bhakti-upāsanā: sustained recollection of the Divine (with Śrī/Lakṣmī-śakti) becomes the inner devotion that gives the mantra its living force.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to mantra-śāstra precision through akṣara-saṅkhyā (the count of syllables—daśākṣara), a technical feature used in correct chanting, ritual application, and systematic upāsanā.