Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यमोहनस्तेषां प्रथमः परिकीर्तितः । श्रीकरश्च हृषीकेशः कृषअणश्चात्र चतुर्थकः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

trailokyamohanasteṣāṃ prathamaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | śrīkaraśca hṛṣīkeśaḥ kṛṣaaṇaścātra caturthakaḥ || 87 ||

Translation

Among these, the first is proclaimed as “Trailokya-mohana,” the Enchanter of the three worlds. Then come Śrīkara and Hṛṣīkeśa; and here Kṛṣṇa is mentioned as the fourth.

Word by Word

• त्रैलोक्य-मोहनः: the deluder of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-मोहनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘त्रैलोक्यस्य मोहनः’

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• प्रथमः: the first
• प्रथमः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परिकीर्तितः: is proclaimed/mentioned
• परिकीर्तितः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘परि+कीर्तित’ = proclaimed/mentioned

• श्री-करः: Śrīkara (giver of prosperity)
• श्री-करः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘श्रियाः करः’ (giver/producer of prosperity)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa
• हृषीकेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विष्णोर्नाम

• कृषअणः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृषअणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-दोषः सम्भाव्यः (कृषअणः ≈ कृष्णः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• चतुर्थकः: the fourth
• चतुर्थकः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ordinal)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hrsikesa
• Krsna

FAQs

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

It highlights specific divine epithets—especially Viṣṇu’s names—teaching that remembrance and recitation of the Lord’s names (nāma) is a direct devotional means to invoke His powers: enchantment over the three worlds (Trailokya-mohana), bestowal of prosperity (Śrīkara), mastery over the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa), and the personal form of the Lord as Kṛṣṇa.

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

By listing revered names, it points to nāma-bhakti: approaching the Supreme through His attributes and forms. Each name becomes a meditative focus—disciplining the mind and senses (Hṛṣīkeśa) and deepening loving remembrance of the Lord (Kṛṣṇa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions like a technical enumeration used in Vedanga-style cataloging: precise naming, ordered listing (first, then, fourth), and correct form of divine epithets—supporting accurate recitation and preservation of sacred terminology used in mantra, stotra, and ritual contexts.