Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

मन्त्रौ षोडशरव्यार्णौ चक्रैरंगानि कल्पयेत् । वरदाभयहस्ताभ्यां श्लिष्यँतं स्वांगके प्रिये ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

mantrau ṣoḍaśaravyārṇau cakrairaṃgāni kalpayet | varadābhayahastābhyāṃ śliṣyaṃtaṃ svāṃgake priye || 13 ||

Translation

Avec les deux mantras—chacun formé de seize syllabes-semences—qu’on dispose les membres (de la Divinité) selon les diagrammes de cakra prescrits. Ô bien-aimée, qu’on contemple le Seigneur étreignant son propre corps, Ses mains montrant les mudrā d’octroi de grâces et d’intrépidité.

Word by Word

• मन्त्रौ: the two mantras
• मन्त्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• रवि: of the sun
• रवि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) — समासे (रवि-आर्ण) सम्बन्धः

• आर्णौ: having syllables (letters)
• आर्णौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); मन्त्रौ इति विशेषणम् (having syllables/letters)

• चक्रैः: with (as) wheels/discs
• चक्रैः: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/construct
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• वरद: boon-giving
• वरद: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (वर-दा), ताभ्याम् इति समासे विशेषणम्

• अभय: fearlessness
• अभय: Visheshya-part (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद (अभय-हस्त)

• हस्ताभ्याम्: with (two) hands
• हस्ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन (Dual)

• श्लिष्यम्: embracing (in contact)
• श्लिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्लिष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present participle), परस्मैपद, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘embracing/being in contact’

• तम्: him/that (form)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्व: one’s own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; स्व-अङ्गक इति

• अङ्गके: on/at the body
• अङ्गके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रिये: O beloved
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructional dialogue on mantra-vidhi/nyasa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches internalized worship: mantra and chakra-based nyāsa culminate in visualizing the deity intimately present—embracing the practitioner—signifying protection, grace, and the transformation of the body into a sacred seat of devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as loving proximity to the Lord: the devotee meditates on the deity’s compassionate mudrās (boon-giving and fearlessness) and experiences divine closeness, strengthening surrender and trust.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technical method—precise syllable/letter-based mantra structure and systematic limb-assignment (aṅga-nyāsa) using chakra-diagrams, reflecting disciplined procedure akin to śikṣā (phonetics) and kalpa-style ritual organization.