Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्णं नित्यलीलास्थं चिंतयेत्स्वधियानिशम् । श्रीमदर्चावतारेण कृष्णं परिचरेत्सदा ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇaṃ nityalīlāsthaṃ ciṃtayetsvadhiyāniśam | śrīmadarcāvatāreṇa kṛṣṇaṃ paricaretsadā || 20 ||

Translation

Mit dem eigenen Geist soll man Śrī Kṛṣṇa betrachten—der ewig in Seinem göttlichen, immerwährenden līlā weilt—bei Nacht und bei Tag unablässig. Und durch Sein glückverheißendes arcā-avatāra (die geweihte Gottheitsgestalt) soll man Kṛṣṇa stets dienen.

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णम्: Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as object of meditation/service)
• श्रीकृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—श्री + कृष्ण (कर्मधारय)

• नित्यलीलास्थम्: ever situated in divine play
• नित्यलीलास्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य-लीला-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (श्रीकृष्णम्); समासः—नित्यलीला + स्थ (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘नित्यलीलायां स्थितः’)

• चिन्तयेत्: should meditate/think upon
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वधिया: with one’s own intellect
• स्वधिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘स्व’ (own) + ‘धि’ (intellect) अर्थे

• अनिशम्: constantly, without break
• अनिशम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिश (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थे)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• श्रीमत्: glorious, revered
• श्रीमत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समर्थ विशेषण-पूर्वपद (समासपूर्वपद); ‘श्री’युक्त (glorious)

• अर्चावतारेण: by/through the arcā-incarnation (deity form)
• अर्चावतारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चा-अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—अर्चायाः अवतारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिचरेत्: should serve, attend upon
• परिचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Bhakti-oriented instruction within the technical/ritual context of Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

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

It unites inner practice (constant remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s nitya-līlā) with outer practice (service to His arcā-avatāra), presenting devotion as both meditation and disciplined worship.

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

Bhakti is shown as uninterrupted contemplation (cintana) and steady service (paricaryā) to the deity form, making devotion continuous rather than occasional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to applied ritual discipline—arcā worship and paricaryā—where correct procedure, mantra use, and purity norms (aligned with Kalpa/ritual science) support sustained devotion.