Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 135

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मानुष्टुप् मुनिश्छन्दो देवः सत्यवतीसुतः । आद्यं बीजं नमः शक्तिदीर्घाढ्यो नादिनांगकम् ॥ १३५ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmānuṣṭup muniśchando devaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ | ādyaṃ bījaṃ namaḥ śaktidīrghāḍhyo nādināṃgakam || 135 ||

Translation

Le mètre est Brāhmānuṣṭubh, et le ṛṣi de ce mantra est le muni ; la divinité présidante est le fils de Satyavatī (Vyāsa). Le bīja est la syllabe primordiale ; la śakti s’exprime par « namaḥ », enrichi d’une voyelle longue, et son aṅga est relié au nāda (son mystique).

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्राह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनुष्टुप्: Anuṣṭubh (meter)
• अनुष्टुप्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्टुप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (छन्दोनाम), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छन्दः: meter
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवः: deity
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सत्यवतीसुतः: son of Satyavatī (Vyāsa)
• सत्यवतीसुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवती (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सत्यवत्याः सुतः’

• आद्यम्: first, primary
• आद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of बीजम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• बीजम्: seed-syllable
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नमः: obeisance
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/उद्देश्य: salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; विसर्गान्त-निपात (particle/interjection of salutation)

• शक्ति: power (śakti)
• शक्ति: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दीर्घाढ्यः: abounding in long (vowels)
• दीर्घाढ्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘दीर्घः आढ्यः’ = rich in long vowels

• नादिनाम्: of the nādins (those with ‘nāda’)
• नादिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अंगकम्: limb/auxiliary part
• अंगकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंगक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical Vedanga-style enumeration; dialogue frame traditionally with Sanatkumara lineages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It gives the mantra-lakṣaṇa (identifying marks) needed to approach a mantra correctly—ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, bīja, śakti, and aṅga—so recitation is aligned with its revealed source, rhythm, deity-focus, and inner power.

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

By centering the śakti in “namaḥ” (salutation), it frames mantra-practice as surrender and reverence—key bhakti attitudes—while still preserving the technical discipline of correct Vedic recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (metre) and mantra-vidhi: the verse specifies the Brāhmānuṣṭubh metre and the standard ritual identifiers (ṛṣi–chandas–devatā plus bīja/śakti/aṅga) used in japa, viniyoga, and related recitation procedures.