Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37
Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana
Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras
तारो नमो भगवते नन्दपुत्राय संवदेत् । आनन्दवपुषे दद्यादृशार्णं तदनंतरम् ॥ ३७ ॥
tāro namo bhagavate nandaputrāya saṃvadet | ānandavapuṣe dadyādṛśārṇaṃ tadanaṃtaram || 37 ||
One should utter the Tāraka (praṇava) first, and then recite: “Obeisance to Bhagavān, the son of Nanda.” Immediately after that, one should add the Ṛśa syllable, addressed to Him whose very form is Ānanda, divine bliss.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical recitation/placement of mantra-syllables)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It prescribes a precise mantra-sequence: beginning with the saving praṇava and moving into devotion to Nanda’s son (Kṛṣṇa), indicating that liberation-oriented sound (oṃ) is joined with personal bhakti to the Lord of bliss-form.
Bhakti is expressed through direct salutation—“namo bhagavate”—specifically to Kṛṣṇa, while the mantra’s structure emphasizes disciplined remembrance (japa/uccāraṇa) rather than vague sentiment.
It reflects Vedāṅga-style technicality in mantra formation—ordering of utterance and addition of specific syllables (arṇa)—a feature connected with śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (correct form/usage) in ritual recitation.