Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

पंचवर्षमतिलोलमंगणे धावमानमतिचंचलेक्षणम् । किंकिणीवलयहारनूपुरै रंजितं नमत गोपबालकम् ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

paṃcavarṣamatilolamaṃgaṇe dhāvamānamaticaṃcalekṣaṇam | kiṃkiṇīvalayahāranūpurai raṃjitaṃ namata gopabālakam || 80 ||

Translation

Verneigt euch vor dem Kuhhirtenknaben — etwa fünf Jahre alt — der im Hof in spielerischer Unrast umherläuft, mit lebhaft umherschweifenden, schelmischen Augen. Er entzückt alle durch das Klingen seiner Glöckchen, Armreifen, Blumengirlande und Fußringe.

Word by Word

• पञ्चवर्षम्: five-year-old
• पञ्चवर्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु; विशेषण (वयः-परिमाण)

• अतिलोलम्: very restless
• अतिलोलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + लोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अङ्गणे: in the courtyard
• अङ्गणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• धावमानम्: running
• धावमानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √धाव् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle)

• अतिचञ्चलेक्षणम्: with very fickle eyes
• अतिचञ्चलेक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + चञ्चल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (चञ्चलम् ईक्षणम् यस्य)

• किंकिणीवलयहारनूपुरैः: with tinkling bells, bracelets, garlands, and anklets
• किंकिणीवलयहारनूपुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकिणी + वलय + हार + नूपुर (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Inst./3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (समाहार/इतरेतर)

• रञ्जितम्: adorned/beautified
• रञ्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रञ्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रञ्ज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• नमत: bow (you all)
• नमत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन

• गोपबालकम्: the cowherd boy
• गोपबालकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप + बालक (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गोपानां बालकः)

Speaker

Narada (in devotional praise within the instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It sanctifies bhakti by directing the mind to Bala-Krishna’s līlā—his playful, human-like sweetness—showing that loving remembrance of the Lord’s charming form is itself a powerful devotional practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as namana (bowing) and smaraṇa (vivid remembrance): the devotee contemplates Krishna’s child-form, movements, and ornaments, allowing affectionate attention to replace distraction with loving absorption.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not teaching a technical Vedanga rule directly, it models disciplined smaraṇa used alongside ritual life—training attention (manas) through precise visual detail, a practical aid for mantra-japa and pūjā in Narada Purana rituals.