Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

मुनिः स्यान्ना रदच्छन्दो गायत्री देवता पुनः । कृष्णो गोविंदनामात्र सर्वकामप्रदो नृणाम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

muniḥ syānnā radacchando gāyatrī devatā punaḥ | kṛṣṇo goviṃdanāmātra sarvakāmaprado nṛṇām || 3 ||

Translation

Le ṛṣi est le sage Nārada ; le mètre (chandas) est Gāyatrī ; et la divinité présidante est Kṛṣṇa—Govinda par le seul Nom—qui accorde aux hommes tous les buts désirés.

Word by Word

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); √अस् (to be)

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• chandaḥ: meter
• chandaḥ: Adhikaraṇa/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gāyatrī: Gāyatrī
• gāyatrī: Adhikaraṇa/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• devatā: deity
• devatā: Adhikaraṇa/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• punaḥ: again; further
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• govinda-nāma-mātram: only the name ‘Govinda’
• govinda-nāma-mātram: Adhikaraṇa/Predicate (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive-determinative): ‘गोविन्दस्य नाम’ + ‘मात्र’ (only)

• sarva-kāma-pradaḥ: giver of all desires
• sarva-kāma-pradaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘सर्वान् कामान् प्रददाति’ (giver of all desires)

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Nārada (teaching in a mantra-identification/Vedāṅga-style format, within the Nārada–Sanatkumāra dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Gayatri
• Krishna
• Govinda

FAQs

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

It encodes the standard mantra-lakṣaṇa (ṛṣi–chandas–devatā) and declares that Kṛṣṇa, known as Govinda, is the mantra’s deity and the fulfiller of human aspirations when approached with devotion.

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

By emphasizing “Govinda-nāma,” it highlights nāma-bhakti—reverent remembrance and recitation of the Lord’s name—as a direct means to obtain both worldly aims and higher spiritual fulfillment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-Chandas and mantra-prayoga practice: identifying the seer (ṛṣi), metre (Gāyatrī), and presiding deity (Kṛṣṇa/Govinda) before employing a mantra in japa or ritual.