Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

गोपात्मा प्रेरकः साक्षी वृंदावननिवासकृत् । वत्सपालो वत्सपतिर्गोपदारकमंडनः ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

gopātmā prerakaḥ sākṣī vṛṃdāvananivāsakṛt | vatsapālo vatsapatirgopadārakamaṃḍanaḥ || 53 ||

Translation

Er, dessen Wesen der Gopa ist; der innere Antreiber; der Zeuge von allem; der das Wohnen in Vṛndāvana bewirkte. Beschützer der Kälber, Herr der Kälber und Zierde—Freude und Ruhm—der Hirtenkinder.

Word by Word

• गोप-आत्मा: cowherd-natured (one whose self is a gopa)
• गोप-आत्मा: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (गोपः आत्मा यस्य/यः = whose nature is that of a cowherd)

• प्रेरकः: instigator/impeller
• प्रेरकः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेरक (प्रातिपदिक; √प्रेर् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन्/साक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; -इन् प्रत्ययान्त

• वृन्दावन-निवास-कृत्: dweller in Vṛndāvana
• वृन्दावन-निवास-कृत्: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृन्दावन (प्रातिपदिक) + निवास (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृन्दावने निवासं करोति); कृदन्तः—कृत् (agent noun, doer)

• वत्स-पालः: protector of calves
• वत्स-पालः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वत्सानां पालः = protector of calves)

• वत्स-पतिः: lord of the calves
• वत्स-पतिः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वत्सानां पतिः = lord of calves)

• गोप-दारक-मण्डनः: adornment of the cowherd boys
• गोप-दारक-मण्डनः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + दारक (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपदारकाणां मण्डनः = ornament/adornment of the cowherd boys)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a litany of divine names/attributes)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vishnu
• Vrindavana

FAQs

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

It presents Kṛṣṇa as both intimate (the cowherd of Vṛndāvana) and absolute (the inner impeller and universal witness), teaching that loving devotion and metaphysical truth meet in the same Lord.

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

By naming the Lord as the protector and delight of the cowherd children and calves, it encourages bhakti through remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s Vṛndāvana līlā—personal, affectionate meditation rather than abstract worship alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is mantra-style nāma-japa and disciplined recitation: precise pronunciation and meaning-based remembrance align with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (word-formation/meaning) used to preserve and apply sacred names.