Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

चाणूरघ्नो भयहरः शलारिस्तोशलांतकः । वैकुंठवासी कंसारिः सर्वदुष्टनिषूदनः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

cāṇūraghno bhayaharaḥ śalāristośalāṃtakaḥ | vaikuṃṭhavāsī kaṃsāriḥ sarvaduṣṭaniṣūdanaḥ || 87 ||

Translation

Il est le vainqueur de Cāṇūra, celui qui ôte la peur; l’ennemi de Śalāri et le destructeur de Tośalā. Il demeure à Vaikuṇṭha; il est l’adversaire de Kaṃsa, l’exterminateur de tous les êtres pervers.

Word by Word

• चाणूरघ्नः: slayer of Cāṇūra
• चाणूरघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाणूर-घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; हन्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; घ्न = हन्तृवाचक

• भयहरः: remover of fear
• भयहरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय-हर (प्रातिपदिक; हृ-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हर = अपहर्ता (remover)

• शलारिः: enemy of Śala (or the Śalas)
• शलारिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल-अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अरि = शत्रु (enemy)

• तोशलान्तकः: destroyer of Tośala
• तोशलान्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोशल-अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अन्तक = नाशक

• वैकुण्ठवासी: dweller in Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठवासी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ-वासी (प्रातिपदिक; वस्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वासी = निवासकर्ता (dweller)

• कंसारिः: enemy of Kaṃsa
• कंसारिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस-अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अरि = शत्रु

• सर्वदुष्टनिषूदनः: destroyer of all wicked (beings)
• सर्वदुष्टनिषूदनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-दुष्ट-निषूदन (प्रातिपदिक; सूद्/सूदय्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निषूदन = संहारक (destroyer)

Speaker

Narada (instructing in a sacred-name/epithet sequence addressed to Vishnu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Cāṇūra
• Kaṁsa
• Vaikuṇṭha

FAQs

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

This verse strings together protective and victory-bestowing names of Vishnu/Krishna, teaching that remembrance of the Lord as the destroyer of adharma and remover of fear grants inner refuge and spiritual steadiness.

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

It models Bhakti as constant remembrance through names: the devotee contemplates the Lord’s deeds (slaying Cāṇūra, defeating Kaṁsa) and His abode (Vaikuṇṭha), which strengthens śraddhā and makes nama-japa a direct devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical sutra, it practically applies śikṣā/uccāraṇa (careful pronunciation) and vyākaraṇa awareness (compound epithets like cāṇūraghna, bhayahara) to stotra/nama-japa—showing how correct recitation supports ritual-devotional efficacy.