Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

चक्रैः पूर्ववदंगानि त्रयाणामपि कल्पयेत् । ततः किरीटमनुनाव्यापकं हि समाचरेत् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

cakraiḥ pūrvavadaṃgāni trayāṇāmapi kalpayet | tataḥ kirīṭamanunāvyāpakaṃ hi samācaret || 4 ||

Translation

Mit den Zeichen des Diskus ordne man die Glieder aller drei (Gestalten) wie zuvor beschrieben. Danach fertige man ordnungsgemäß die Krone, nach dem vorgeschriebenen Maß, weit ausgebreitet und alles durchdringend in rechter Proportion.

Word by Word

• cakraiḥ: with (the) discs/cakras
• cakraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• pūrvavat: as before
• pūrvavat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvavat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb) ‘as before’

• aṅgāni: limbs/parts
• aṅgāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• trayāṇām: of the three
• trayāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; ‘of the three’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• kalpayet: should arrange/construct
• kalpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; √कॢप् (to arrange/prepare)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb) ‘then/from that’

• kirīṭa-manunā: by the kirīṭa-mantra
• kirīṭa-manunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘किरीटस्य मनुना’ (by the kirīṭa-mantra)

• vyāpakam: all-pervading
• vyāpakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; (agreeing with implied ‘mantram/nyāsam’)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• samācaret: should perform/practice
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; √चर् with उपसर्ग sam+ā (to perform/observe)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-arts context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It stresses that sacred forms are not made arbitrarily: divine emblems (like the cakra) and correct proportions (like the kirīṭa) are part of dharmic precision, ensuring the icon supports proper meditation and worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, rule-guided service—constructing or visualizing the Lord’s form with correct marks and ornaments, so devotion becomes disciplined and focused rather than merely emotional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied technical discipline aligned with śāstric method—measured construction and prescribed features—akin to the procedural rigor used in kalpa (ritual procedure) and related śāstra-based arts.