Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

वामोर्द्ध्वहस्ते दधतं विद्यापुस्तकमुत्तमम् । अक्षमालां च दक्षोर्द्ध्वस्फाटिकीं मातृकामयीम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

vāmorddhvahaste dadhataṃ vidyāpustakamuttamam | akṣamālāṃ ca dakṣorddhvasphāṭikīṃ mātṛkāmayīm || 26 ||

Translation

In der erhobenen linken Hand hält er das erhabene Buch der heiligen Erkenntnis; und in der erhobenen rechten Hand hält er eine kristallene Gebetskette, gebildet aus den göttlichen Lauten (mātṛkās).

Word by Word

• vāma-ūrdhva-haste: in the left raised hand
• vāma-ūrdhva-haste: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadhatam: holding/bearing
• dadhatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (कृदन्त: शतृ), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter form used adjectivally

• vidyā-pustakam: a book of knowledge
• vidyā-pustakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + pustaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttamam: excellent
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• akṣa-mālām: a rosary (of beads)
• akṣa-mālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• dakṣa-ūrdhva-sphāṭikīm: crystal (rosary) in the raised right (hand)
• dakṣa-ūrdhva-sphāṭikīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + sphāṭikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying akṣamālām

• mātṛkā-mayīm: consisting of letters (mātṛkās)
• mātṛkā-mayīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mātṛkā (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); -mayī = 'consisting of'

Speaker

Narada (describing the form/attributes as part of the technical-ritual narrative in dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Matrika (divine letters)
• Vidyā (sacred knowledge)

FAQs

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

It presents sacred knowledge (vidyā) and disciplined remembrance (japa with akṣamālā) as complementary means—study guided by scripture and practice guided by mantra.

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

Bhakti is supported by both understanding and repetition: the “book of knowledge” points to hearing/learning (śravaṇa), while the rosary points to constant remembrance through mantra-japa (smaraṇa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The reference to mātṛkā (letters) links to śikṣā and vyākaraṇa—correct sounds and forms of mantra—while the akṣamālā indicates practical japa discipline used in ritual and upāsanā.