Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

अथ कृष्णो महाभाग द्विधारूपो बभूव ह । वामार्द्धांगो महादेवो दक्षार्द्धो गोपिकापतिः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

atha kṛṣṇo mahābhāga dvidhārūpo babhūva ha | vāmārddhāṃgo mahādevo dakṣārddho gopikāpatiḥ || 23 ||

Translation

Then, O greatly fortunate one, Kṛṣṇa indeed assumed a twofold form: His left half became Mahādeva (Śiva), and His right half became the Lord of the gopīs (Kṛṣṇa).

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha/Discourse (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (discourse marker)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; संबोधनरूपेण

• द्विधा: in two ways/twofold
• द्विधा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• रूपः: formed/appearing
• रूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘कृष्णः’ इति विशेषणम् (द्विधा-रूपः = two-formed)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• वाम-अर्ध-अङ्गः: whose left half is (one part)
• वाम-अर्ध-अङ्गः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—वामम् अर्धम् अङ्गम् यस्य सः/वामार्धम् अङ्गम् (तत्पुरुष)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Predicate/Nominative complement (प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—महान् देवः (कर्मधारय)

• दक्ष-अर्धः: the right half
• दक्ष-अर्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—दक्षम् अर्धम् (तत्पुरुष)

• गोपिका-पतिः: lord of the gopīs
• गोपिका-पतिः: Predicate/Nominative complement (प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपिका (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—गोपिकानां पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Gopikas

FAQs

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

It teaches the non-contradiction of Hari and Hara: the same Supreme reality can manifest as Śiva (Mahādeva) and as Kṛṣṇa (Gopikā-pati), encouraging unity in worship rather than sectarian division.

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

By presenting Kṛṣṇa as the source of both forms, the verse supports inclusive bhakti—devotion offered to Kṛṣṇa or to Śiva can be understood as directed toward one divine principle manifesting in different modes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily conveys purāṇic theology rather than a specific Vedāṅga technique; practically, it guides correct devotional orientation (dharma of worship) by harmonizing Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava perspectives.