Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

माधवीमंडपासीनौ गरुडेनाभिपालितौ । दिव्यक्रीडासु निरतौ रामकृष्णौ स्मरन् जपेत् ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

mādhavīmaṃḍapāsīnau garuḍenābhipālitau | divyakrīḍāsu niratau rāmakṛṣṇau smaran japet || 87 ||

Translation

Qu’on récite (japa) en se souvenant de Rāma et de Kṛṣṇa : assis dans un pavillon-bower de lianes mādhavī, protégés par Garuḍa, et absorbés dans les jeux divins.

Word by Word

• mādhavī-maṇḍapa-āsīnau: seated in the Mādhavī pavilion
• mādhavī-maṇḍapa-āsīnau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mādhavī (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍapa (प्रातिपदिक) + āsīna (कृदन्त, √ās)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/निष्ठा-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘seated’; तत्पुरुष ‘seated in the Mādhavī pavilion’

• garuḍena: by Garuḍa
• garuḍena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• abhipālitau: protected
• abhipālitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + pāl (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘protected/guarded’

• divya-krīḍāsu: in divine sports
• divya-krīḍāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (krīḍā), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय ‘divine sports’

• niratau: engaged/absorbed
• niratau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• rāma-kṛṣṇau: Rāma and Kṛṣṇa
• rāma-kṛṣṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘remembering’

• japet: should mutter/recite
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Krishna
• Garuda

FAQs

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

It prescribes a bhakti method: combine smaraṇa (remembrance/visualization) with japa (repetition), fixing the mind on Rāma and Kṛṣṇa in a sacred, protective, and blissful divine setting.

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

Bhakti is shown as loving recollection of the Lord’s līlā (divine play) supported by steady name-recitation; remembrance (smaran) gives feeling and focus, while japa gives disciplined continuity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined recitation practice (japa) with correct, consistent utterance—aligned with śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (proper forms) as supportive tools for effective mantra/nāma repetition.