Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

अनयोर्नारदऋषिश्छंदस्तूष्णिगनुष्टुभौ । देवता नन्दपुत्रस्तु विनियोगोऽखिलाप्तये ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

anayornāradaṛṣiśchaṃdastūṣṇiganuṣṭubhau | devatā nandaputrastu viniyogo'khilāptaye || 40 ||

Translation

For these two mantras, the seer (Ṛṣi) is Sage Nārada; the metres (Chandas) are Tūṣṇik and Anuṣṭubh. The presiding deity is the son of Nanda, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and their ritual application (Viniyoga) is for the attainment of all desired aims.

Word by Word

• anayoḥ: of these two
• anayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); सर्वनाम

• nāradaḥ: Narada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ṛṣiḥ: seer (ṛṣi)
• ṛṣiḥ: Pradhāna-nirdeśa (निर्देश/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• chandaḥ: meter
• chandaḥ: Pradhāna-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tūṣṇik: Tūṣṇik (a meter)
• tūṣṇik: Pradhāna-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tūṣṇik (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; छन्दो-नाम (name of a meter)

• anuṣṭubh: Anuṣṭubh (a meter)
• anuṣṭubh: Pradhāna-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuṣṭubh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; छन्दो-नाम

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (both)

• devatā: presiding deity
• devatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nanda-putraḥ: Nanda’s son
• nanda-putraḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nanda + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: nanda (of Nanda) + putra (son)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोध (particle: indeed/but)

• viniyogaḥ: application/ritual employment
• viniyogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viniyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• akhila-āptaye: for the attainment of all (goals)
• akhila-āptaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila + āpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: akhila (all) + āpti (attainment)

Speaker

Narada (teaching mantra-vidhi in a technical Vedanga-style register)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Krishna
• Nanda

FAQs

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

It formalizes the mantra’s identity—Ṛṣi, Chandas, Devatā, and Viniyoga—so the recitation is aligned with Vedic procedure and directed to Kṛṣṇa (Nandaputra) for comprehensive attainment (akhilāpti).

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

By naming Nandaputra (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) as the Devatā, it centers the practice on personal devotion to Kṛṣṇa, showing that correct mantra-orientation culminates in spiritually meaningful fulfillment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga-style mantra classification—especially Chandas (prosody/metre) and Viniyoga (practical application)—a technical prerequisite for disciplined japa and ritual usage.