Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

भूसद्मनाभिवृतमस्रगमन्मथेन गोरोचनाविलिखितं तपनीयसूच्या । पट्टे हिरण्यरचिते गुलिकीकृतं तद्गोपालयंत्रमखिलार्थदमेतदुक्तम् ॥ १५६ ॥

Transliteration

bhūsadmanābhivṛtamasragamanmathena gorocanāvilikhitaṃ tapanīyasūcyā | paṭṭe hiraṇyaracite gulikīkṛtaṃ tadgopālayaṃtramakhilārthadametaduktam || 156 ||

Translation

ഭൂസദ്മന-ചിഹ്നവും അസ്രഗമനമന്മഥ-ലാഞ്ഛനവും ചുറ്റി, ഗോറോചന കൊണ്ട് ശുദ്ധ സ്വർണ്ണസൂചിയാൽ എഴുതിയതു; പിന്നെ സ്വർണ്ണപ്പട്ടയിൽ മടക്കി ചെറിയ ഗുളികയാക്കി സ്വർണ്ണലോക്കറ്റിൽ ധരിക്കുന്നതു—ഇതേ ‘ഗോപാല-യന്ത്രം’, സർവ്വാർത്ഥദായകമെന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• bhū-sadmanā: by/with the earth-abode (i.e., earthly base)
• bhū-sadmanā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + sadman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (भू-सद्मन् = earth-dwelling/earth-abode)

• abhivṛtam: covered, enclosed
• abhivṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; agrees with implied 'yantram'

• asrak: with blood
• asrak: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asṛj/asra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (Vedic/irregular stem asrak)

• amanmathena: with (that which is) without desire/Manmatha
• amanmathena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-manmatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'a-' privative

• gorocanā: with yellow pigment (gorocanā)
• gorocanā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gorocanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (understood with next participle as means)

• avilikhitam: inscribed, written
• avilikhitam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√likh (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; agrees with 'yantram'

• tapanīya-sūcyā: with a golden needle
• tapanīya-sūcyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapanīya (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (tapanīya=golden + sūcī=needle)

• paṭṭe: on a cloth/band
• paṭṭe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• hiraṇya-racite: made of gold
• hiraṇya-racite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + racita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with 'paṭṭe'; तत्पुरुषः (made of gold)

• gulikī-kṛtam: made into small pellets/beads
• gulikī-kṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gulikī (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (made into pellets/beads)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• gopāla-yantram: the Gopāla yantra
• gopāla-yantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक) + yantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (Gopāla-related yantra)

• akhila-artha-dam: granting all purposes/boons
• akhila-artha-dam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; agrees with 'yantram'; तत्पुरुषः (giver of all aims/benefits)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• uktam: is said/declared
• uktam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative Singular; impersonal passive sense 'has been said'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gopala (Vishnu/Krishna)

FAQs

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

It presents a concrete ritual technology—constructing and wearing a Gopāla-yantra—as a support for devotion and protection, promising success in the four aims of life through Vishnu/Krishna-centered upāsanā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent making, consecrating, and carrying a sacred emblem of Gopāla; the external yantra functions as a continual reminder and locus of faith in the Lord’s guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure (prayoga): prescribed materials (gorocanā, gold), instrument (gold needle), medium (plate/foil), and method (rolling into a pellet and placing in a gold locket) typical of applied sacred sciences in Book 1.3.