Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

अष्टाविंशतिवर्णोऽयं मंत्रः सर्वेष्टदायकः । नंदपुत्रपदं ङेंतं श्यामलांगपदं तथा ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭāviṃśativarṇo'yaṃ maṃtraḥ sarveṣṭadāyakaḥ | naṃdaputrapadaṃ ṅeṃtaṃ śyāmalāṃgapadaṃ tathā || 38 ||

Translation

Ce mantra, formé de vingt-huit syllabes, accorde tous les buts désirés. Il contient le terme «fils de Nanda», et aussi l’expression «aux membres d’une teinte sombre (Śyāma)».

Word by Word

• aṣṭāviṃśati-varṇaḥ: having twenty-eight syllables/letters
• aṣṭāviṃśati-varṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭāviṃśati + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): aṣṭāviṃśati (28) + varṇa (syllable/letter)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• mantraḥ: mantra
• mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• sarva-iṣṭa-dāyakaḥ: giver of all desired (boons)
• sarva-iṣṭa-dāyakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + iṣṭa + dāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): sarva (all) + iṣṭa (desired) + dāyaka (giver)

• nanda-putra-padam: the word/term ‘Nanda’s son’
• nanda-putra-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nanda + putra + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: nanda-putra (Nanda's son) + pada (word/term)

• ṅeṃtam: (unclear/variant reading)
• ṅeṃtam: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: (पाठभ्रंश/अस्पष्ट-रूप)
• Form: अव्यय/पाठान्तर-रूप (indeclinable/unclear reading); सम्भाव्यं ‘netam/etad’ इत्यादि, परन्तु निश्चितं न

• śyāmala-aṅga-padam: the word/term ‘dark-limbed’
• śyāmala-aṅga-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śyāmala + aṅga + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: śyāmala-aṅga (dark-limbed) + pada (word/term)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चय/उपपद (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nanda
• Krishna (implied by epithets: Nandaputra, Shyamalanga)

FAQs

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

It frames a specific Vishnu/Krishna-oriented mantra as technically complete (defined by syllable-count) and spiritually efficacious, teaching that properly formed divine-name components can grant both worldly aims and higher spiritual fulfillment.

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

By highlighting epithets like “Nandaputra” and “Shyamalanga,” it directs the mind toward a personal, lovable form of the Lord; remembrance of the Lord through His names and attributes is presented as a direct devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-lakshana grounded in Vedanga-style technicality—especially phonetic/grammatical attention to varṇa (syllable/phoneme count) and pada (word-units) used in mantra construction.