Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

चतुष्कपिङ्गलां पीतपिङ्गलां चोत्तमां शुभाम् । गोगणाष्टकमभ्यर्च्य लोकेशानुयुधैर्युतान् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

catuṣkapiṅgalāṃ pītapiṅgalāṃ cottamāṃ śubhām | gogaṇāṣṭakamabhyarcya lokeśānuyudhairyutān || 63 ||

Translation

Après avoir vénéré comme il se doit le «gogaṇa-aṣṭaka», l’ensemble des huit vaches sacrées—les quatre fauves, les fauves-jaunes, et celles qui sont excellentes et de bon augure—qu’on adore ensuite les Lokapāla, Seigneurs des mondes, entourés de leurs guerriers serviteurs.

Word by Word

• चतुष्कपिङ्गलाम्: (the goddess) Catuṣkapiṅgalā
• चतुष्कपिङ्गलाम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्कपिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक; चतुष्क + पिङ्गला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेष्य-रूपेण स्त्रीदेवीनाम् नाम

• पीतपिङ्गलाम्: (the goddess) Pītapiṅgalā
• पीतपिङ्गलाम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीतपिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक; पीत + पिङ्गला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); नाम/विशेष्य

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उत्तमाम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमाम्: विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम्

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम्

• गोगणाष्टकम्: the set of eight ‘gogaṇa’ (eightfold group)
• गोगणाष्टकम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोगणाष्टक (प्रातिपदिक; गो + गण + अष्टक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having worshipped’

• लोकेशानुयुधैः: with the attendants/warriors of the Lord of the worlds
• लोकेशानुयुधैः: सह/करण (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकेशानुयुध (प्रातिपदिक; लोकेश + अनुयुध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.)

• युतान्: joined, accompanied
• युतान्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √युज् ‘to join’ → युत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (pl.); भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (past participial adjective)

Speaker

Sage Narada (in instruction to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lokapalas
• Gogaṇa (eight sacred cows)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual completeness: honoring sacred symbols of prosperity and purity (the gogaṇa-aṣṭaka) and then invoking cosmic order through the Lokapālas, aligning the rite with protection and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, orderly worship—offering honor to sacred embodiments (cows as śubha symbols) and to divine guardians, cultivating humility and dependence on divine protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual sequencing (a Vedāṅga discipline): perform a specific upacāra (abhyarcya) to a prescribed group (aṣṭaka) and then proceed to the directional deities (Lokapālas) with their retinues.