Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

दंडांते वा धरावह्निरधीशाढ्योऽथ लोहितः । मेघश्यामपदं पश्चाद्भगवान् सलिलंसदृक् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

daṃḍāṃte vā dharāvahniradhīśāḍhyo'tha lohitaḥ | meghaśyāmapadaṃ paścādbhagavān salilaṃsadṛk || 52 ||

Translation

Am Ende des Stabes (daṇḍa) ist das Feuer, das die Erde trägt; danach folgt ein rötlicher Glanz, erfüllt von Herrschaft. Darauf nimmt der Herr (Bhagavān) die Stufe/Position eines wolkendunklen Blau-Schwarz an und erscheint anschließend in einer Farbe, die dem Wasser gleicht.

Word by Word

• दण्ड-अन्ते: at the end of the staff
• दण्ड-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (or)

• धरा-वह्निः: the earth-fire (fire on earth)
• धरा-वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अधीश-आढ्यः: rich in lordship / endowed with sovereignty
• अधीश-आढ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधीश (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• लोहितः: red
• लोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मेघ-श्याम-पदम्: the cloud-dark state/step
• मेघ-श्याम-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'cloud-dark state/step'

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (afterwards)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सलिलम्-सदृक्: resembling water
• सलिलम्-सदृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश्/सदृक् (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; सदृक् = 'like'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/technical meditation context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Vishnu/Narayana)

FAQs

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

It outlines a graded contemplation of Bhagavan through symbolic colors and elemental resemblances, training the mind to move from gross supports (fire) to subtler divine appearance (cloud-dark, water-like), stabilizing dhyāna.

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

By giving concrete visual cues—red, cloud-dark, water-like—the verse supports loving remembrance (smaraṇa) of Vishnu/Narayana, making bhakti practical through guided upāsanā rather than abstract thought.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical upāsanā methodology—using precise descriptive markers (varṇa/rūpa-lakṣaṇa) as a disciplined aid to concentration, a common feature in Vedanga-adjacent contemplative and ritual manuals.