Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

कामः कृष्णपदं ङेंतं वह्निजायांतकः परः । कृष्णगोविंदकौ ङेंतौ सप्तार्णः सर्वसिद्धिदः ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

kāmaḥ kṛṣṇapadaṃ ṅeṃtaṃ vahnijāyāṃtakaḥ paraḥ | kṛṣṇagoviṃdakau ṅeṃtau saptārṇaḥ sarvasiddhidaḥ || 91 ||

Translation

Bīja ‘kāma’ adalah bentuk datif (akhiran ṅe) dari kata ‘kṛṣṇa’. Bunyi tertinggi ialah ‘vahnijāyāntaka’. ‘Kṛṣṇa’ dan ‘Govinda’ dalam bentuk datif bila digabung menjadi mantra tujuh suku kata yang menganugerahkan segala siddhi.

Word by Word

• kāmaḥ: Kāma (as a seed/term)
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-padam: the word ‘kṛṣṇa’
• kṛṣṇa-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘kṛṣṇasya padam’ (the word ‘kṛṣṇa’)

• ṅeṃtam: ṅeṃta-ending (technical)
• ṅeṃtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṅeṃta (प्रातिपदिक; technical)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘padam’

• vahni-jāyā-anta-kaḥ: ending with ‘svāhā’ (technical)
• vahni-jāyā-anta-kaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vahni + jāyā + anta + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (technical): ending with ‘vahni-jāyā’ (svāhā); -ka as secondary suffix

• paraḥ: another
• paraḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-govindakau: Kṛṣṇa and Govinda
• kṛṣṇa-govindakau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘kṛṣṇaś ca govindaś ca’

• ṅeṃtau: ṅeṃta-ending (both)
• ṅeṃtau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṅeṃta (प्रातिपदिक; technical)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; qualifying the dvandva

• sapta-arṇaḥ: seven-syllabled
• sapta-arṇaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘sapta arṇāni yasya’ (seven-syllabled)

• sarva-siddhi-daḥ: giver of all accomplishments
• sarva-siddhi-daḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + siddhi + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘sarvāḥ siddhīḥ dadāti’ (giver of all attainments)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/mantra-vidhi passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Govinda

FAQs

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

It frames devotion to Krishna through a precisely counted mantra-form (saptārṇa), asserting that correct mantra-knowledge and recitation lead to “sarva-siddhi”—complete spiritual and worldly attainments.

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

By centering the divine names “Krishna” and “Govinda” as the effective mantra-body, it teaches nāma-bhakti: realization and results arise from disciplined remembrance and repetition of the Lord’s names.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedanga-style technicality—mantra syllable-counting (arṇa), phonetic designation, and correct identification of mantra units—used to standardize recitation and ritual application.