Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

गोपानूगोपीश्च गोविंदविलीनमतिलोचनान् । ज्ञानमुद्राभयकरौ पितरौ पीतपांडुरौ ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

gopānūgopīśca goviṃdavilīnamatilocanān | jñānamudrābhayakarau pitarau pītapāṃḍurau || 64 ||

Translation

Qu’il contemple les bouviers et les gopīs, l’esprit et le regard entièrement fondus en Govinda; et qu’il contemple aussi les deux vénérables anciens, d’une teinte jaune pâle, les mains formant le mudrā de la connaissance et le mudrā de l’absence de crainte.

Word by Word

• गोपान्: cowherd men
• गोपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• ऊगोपीन्: cowherd women (gopīs)
• ऊगोपीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊगोपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; accusative plural; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-शब्दः—सम्भवतः ‘गोपीन्’ (gopīn) intended

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

• गोविन्दविलीनमतिलोचनान्: whose minds are absorbed in Govinda, (with such) eyes
• गोविन्दविलीनमतिलोचनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + विलीन (कृदन्त) + मति (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; accusative plural; समासः—गोविन्दे विलीन-मतिः येषां (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः सम्भवः), लोचनाः: ‘whose minds are absorbed in Govinda; (having such) eyes’—as qualifier of gopān/gopīn

• ज्ञानमुद्राभयकरौ: with the jñāna-mudrā and granting fearlessness
• ज्ञानमुद्राभयकरौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; nominative dual; समासः—ज्ञान-मुद्रा + अभय-करौ: ‘having the gesture of knowledge and (hands) granting fearlessness’

• पितरौ: the two parents
• पितरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; nominative dual

• पीतपाण्डुरौ: yellowish-pale
• पीतपाण्डुरौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त) + पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; nominative dual; कर्मधारयः—पीत- पाण्डुरौ ‘yellowish-pale’

Speaker

Narada (as instructor within the Narada Purana’s didactic dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Govinda

FAQs

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

It teaches contemplative absorption (dhyana) where the devotee visualizes the Vraja community—gopas and gopis—as completely merged in Govinda, pointing to single-pointed devotion that matures into inner steadiness and liberation-oriented devotion.

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

Bhakti is shown as total fixation of mind and gaze on Govinda (govinda-vilīna-mati-locana), indicating that devotion is not merely ritual action but an all-consuming remembrance and loving attention centered on Vishnu as Govinda.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with applied ritual-visualization principles used in mantra and worship practice—iconographic cues like jñāna-mudrā and abhaya (gestures) guide correct contemplative form during upāsanā, even within a technically oriented (Vedanga-linked) section.