Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

कालिं द्याद्या महिष्योऽष्टौ वसुपत्रेषु संस्थिताः । पीठकोणेषु बद्ध्वादिकिंकणीं च तथा पुनः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

kāliṃ dyādyā mahiṣyo'ṣṭau vasupatreṣu saṃsthitāḥ | pīṭhakoṇeṣu baddhvādikiṃkaṇīṃ ca tathā punaḥ || 72 ||

Translation

One should place Kāli first, then set the eight mahīṣyaḥ (buffalo-cows) upon the lotus of the Vasus; and, having tied small bells (kiṅkiṇī) at the corners of the pedestal, one should proceed again to the next step of the rite.

Word by Word

• कालिम्: Kālī
• कालिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• द्या-आद्याः: Dyā and others
• द्या-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समास: द्याद्याः = Dyā and others (beginning with Dyā)

• महिष्यः: queens/consorts
• महिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा, बहुवचन (स्त्रीलिङ्गानुगुणम्)

• वसु-पत्रेषु: on the Vasu-petals
• वसु-पत्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वसूनां पत्रेषु / ‘petals associated with the Vasus’)

• संस्थिताः: placed/situated
• संस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with ‘महिष्यः’

• पीठ-कोणेषु: at the corners of the pedestal
• पीठ-कोणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पीठस्य कोणेषु)

• बद्ध्वा: having fastened
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘having bound/fastened’

• आदि-किंकणीम्: a tinkling anklet/bell-ornament etc.
• आदि-किंकणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + किंकणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘आदि’समास: ‘kinkṇī and the like/starting with kinkṇī’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (instructional discourse to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Vasus

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sacred results depend not only on devotion but also on correct ritual arrangement (nyāsa/saṃsthāpana)—placing prescribed forms (like Kāli) and symbolic groups (like the Vasus) in their proper locations to harmonize the rite.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, reverent service—adorning the pedestal with bells and arranging the prescribed symbols—showing devotion as disciplined worship (upacāra) performed according to scriptural method.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Vaidika ritual procedure: step-by-step placement on a defined altar geometry (pīṭha-koṇa), use of ritual accessories (kiṅkiṇī), and prescribed numerical/symbolic groupings (eight, Vasus) typical of technical instructions.