Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

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

Devanagari script

क्रोडः शान्तींदुवह्न्याढ्यो माया बीज प्रकीर्ततम् । गोविंदवह्निचन्द्राढ्यो मनुः श्रीबीजमीरितम् ॥ १५९ ॥

Transliteration

kroḍaḥ śāntīṃduvahnyāḍhyo māyā bīja prakīrtatam | goviṃdavahnicandrāḍhyo manuḥ śrībījamīritam || 159 ||

Translation

‘ക്രോഡ’—ശാന്തി, ഇന്ദു (ചന്ദ്രൻ), വഹ്നി (അഗ്നി) എന്നിവയോടു ചേർന്നാൽ—പ്രസിദ്ധ ‘മായാ-ബീജം’ എന്നു കീര്ത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അതുപോലെ ‘ഗോവിന്ദ’—വഹ്നിയും ചന്ദ്രനും ചേർന്നാൽ—അത് ‘ശ്രീ-ബീജം’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• kroḍaḥ: kroḍa (a syllable/term)
• kroḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kroḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• śānti-indu-vahni-āḍhyaḥ: endowed with śānti, indu, and vahni
• śānti-indu-vahni-āḍhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (endowed with/containing the syllables 'śānti', 'indu', 'vahni')

• māyā: māyā
• māyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular

• bījam: seed (mantra-syllable)
• bījam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular; predicate nominative

• prakīrtitam: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kīrt (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative Singular; impersonal passive 'is proclaimed' (refers to 'bījam')

• govinda-vahni-candra-āḍhyaḥ: endowed with govinda, vahni, and candra
• govinda-vahni-candra-āḍhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक) + vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; agrees with 'manuḥ'; बहुव्रीहिः (endowed with/containing govinda, vahni, candra)

• manuḥ: the mantra
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; 'mantra' sense

• śrī-bījam: the Śrī-seed syllable
• śrī-bījam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (seed of Śrī)

• īritam: is stated
• īritam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īr (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative Singular; impersonal passive 'is stated' (refers to śrī-bījam)

Speaker

Narada (instructing in a technical mantra-vidyā/Vedanga-style enumeration within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Vishnu
• Maya
• Shri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It encodes how specific seed-mantras (bījas) are constructed and identified, linking technical mantra-formation with devotion—Māyā-bīja for divine power and Śrī-bīja for auspicious grace associated with Śrī (Lakṣmī) and Govinda (Viṣṇu).

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

By centering the mantra-base on “Govinda,” it frames mantra-practice as Viṣṇu-bhakti: the technical bīja is not merely phonetics, but a devotional support (upāsanā) for invoking the Lord’s presence along with Śrī (divine fortune).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, Vedāṅga-like method of mantra instruction using code-terms (e.g., indu, vahni) to indicate syllables/phonetic components—useful for correct construction and recitation in ritual and japa.