Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

स्मृतिः सद्यान्विता चक्री दक्षकर्णयुतोधरा । नाथाय हृदयांतोऽयं वसुवर्णो महामनुः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

smṛtiḥ sadyānvitā cakrī dakṣakarṇayutodharā | nāthāya hṛdayāṃto'yaṃ vasuvarṇo mahāmanuḥ || 78 ||

Translation

Smṛti (die erinnerte Lehre) wirkt sogleich; wie eine Trägerin des Cakra, mit einem tüchtigen „rechten Ohr“ begabt und Stütze dessen, was getragen wird. Dieser große Manu namens Vasuvarṇa ist im Innersten des Herzens dem Herrn (Nātha) hingegeben.

Word by Word

• स्मृतिः: (the) Smṛti (name/epithet)
• स्मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अन्विता: endowed/connected
• अन्विता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ (धातु) + नि/अनु उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• चक्री: bearing a discus (cakra)
• चक्री: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; -इन् अन्त (possessive)

• दक्षकर्णयुतोधरा: having the right ear joined/connected (and) with belly (udharā)
• दक्षकर्णयुतोधरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष + कर्ण + युत + उधरा (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विशेषण-प्रधान)

• नाथाय: for the Lord/master
• नाथाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• हृदयान्तः: the inner heart/heart’s interior
• हृदयान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वसुवर्णः: golden-colored (lit. of Vasus’ hue)
• वसुवर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसु + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (वसु-इव वर्णः)

• महामनुः: the great Manu
• महामनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मनु (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework of Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nātha (the Lord)
• Manu (Mahāmanu)
• Vasuvarṇa

FAQs

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

It links Dharma (Smṛti as actionable tradition) with inner devotion, stating that right conduct is meant to be upheld while remaining heart-centered in surrender to the Lord (Nātha).

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

Bhakti is shown as internal—“in the heart”—even while one follows outward disciplines of Smṛti; devotion and Dharma are presented as complementary rather than opposed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Smṛti-based application of Dharma—useful for ritual conduct and social-religious norms—supporting the technical/practical orientation of Book 1.3’s Vedāṅga-style discussions.