Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

मल्लरूपो महाकालः कामरूपी बलान्वितः । कंसत्रासकरो भीमो मुष्टिकांतश्च कंसहा ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

mallarūpo mahākālaḥ kāmarūpī balānvitaḥ | kaṃsatrāsakaro bhīmo muṣṭikāṃtaśca kaṃsahā || 86 ||

Translation

Assuming the form of a wrestler, He became like Mahākāla; able to take any form at will and endowed with strength—terrifying Kaṃsa, formidable, the slayer of Muṣṭika, and indeed the killer of Kaṃsa.

Word by Word

• मल्लरूपः: having the form of a wrestler
• मल्लरूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (wrestler-form)

• महाकालः: Mahākāla; the great Time/Death
• महाकालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great + time/death)

• कामरूपी: one who assumes forms at will
• कामरूपी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम-रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूपिन्-प्रातिपदिक (possessor of form)

• बलान्वितः: endowed with strength
• बलान्वितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतपूर्वक/निष्ठान्त-विशेषण (endowed with strength)

• कंसत्रासकरः: causer of fear to Kaṃsa
• कंसत्रासकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस-त्रास-कर (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर = कर्तृवाचक (maker/causer)

• भीमः: terrible, formidable
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुष्टिकान्तः: slayer of Muṣṭika
• मुष्टिकान्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टिक-अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अन्तक = नाशक (destroyer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कंसहा: slayer of Kaṃsa
• कंसहा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस-हन् (प्रातिपदिक; हन्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हन्-समासान्त (slayer)

Speaker

Nārada (narrating to the Sanatkumāra brothers, contextually)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahākāla
• Kaṃsa
• Muṣṭika

FAQs

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

It presents the Lord (as Kṛṣṇa) through power-epithets: time-conquering (Mahākāla-like), freely manifesting (kāmarūpī), and dharma-protecting by destroying oppressive forces (Kaṃsa), encouraging remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent recitation.

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

By listing divine names and deeds, it supports bhakti practices such as nāma-saṅkīrtana and līlā-smaraṇa—devotion grows by contemplating the Lord’s protective acts and sovereign freedom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects the purāṇic method of forming meaningful epithets (useful for chandas-style memorization and vyākaraṇa-aware compound meanings), aiding accurate recitation and retention in traditional study.