Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

शिक्षावेषधरं कृष्णं किंकिणीजालशोभितम् । ध्यात्वा प्रतर्पयेन्मंत्री दुग्धबुद्ध्या शुभैर्जलैः ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

śikṣāveṣadharaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ kiṃkiṇījālaśobhitam | dhyātvā pratarpayenmaṃtrī dugdhabuddhyā śubhairjalaiḥ || 140 ||

Translation

Après avoir médité sur Kṛṣṇa, revêtu de l’apparence de Śikṣā (le Vedāṅga de la phonétique) et paré d’un réseau de petites clochettes, le connaisseur du mantra doit accomplir le rite d’apaisement en offrant une eau de bon augure, la tenant en son esprit pour du lait.

Word by Word

• शिक्षा-वेष-धरम्: wearing the guise of a student/learner
• शिक्षा-वेष-धरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिक्षायाः वेषं धरति इति)

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• किंकिणी-जाल-शोभितम्: adorned with a net/cluster of bells
• किंकिणी-जाल-शोभितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंकिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (किंकिणीनां जालेन शोभितम्)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (on)
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having meditated)

• प्रतर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer (oblations)
• प्रतर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘to satisfy/offer oblation’ (प्र-तर्पयति)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• दुग्ध-बुद्ध्या: with the notion (that it is) milk
• दुग्ध-बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दुग्धस्य बुद्धिः/भावना—‘as milk’)

• शुभैः: auspicious/pure
• शुभैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘jalaiḥ’)

• जलैः: with waters
• जलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion and ritual efficacy depend on dhyāna (focused contemplation) and bhāvanā (inner intention): even simple pure water can become a sacred offering when mentally offered as milk to Kṛṣṇa.

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

Bhakti is expressed through meditative visualization of Kṛṣṇa and reverent offering; the verse emphasizes heartfelt intention over material abundance, aligning ritual action with loving remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/pronunciation) is invoked symbolically—linking correct mantra-recitation and disciplined ritual practice with a deity-form, showing how Vedāṅga expertise supports worship and mantra-prayoga.