Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 194

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

Devanagari script

जप्या जपादौ गोपालमनूनां जनरंजनी । हृदयं कामदेवाय ङेंतं सर्वजनप्रियम् ॥ १९४ ॥

Transliteration

japyā japādau gopālamanūnāṃ janaraṃjanī | hṛdayaṃ kāmadevāya ṅeṃtaṃ sarvajanapriyam || 194 ||

Translation

ജപത്തിന്റെ ആരംഭത്തിൽ ഗോപാലമന്ത്രങ്ങളുടെ ജനരഞ്ജനീ സൂത്രം ജപിക്കേണ്ടതാണ്. ‘ങേം’ ബീജത്തിൽ ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന കാമദേവ ഹൃദയമന്ത്രം സർവ്വജനപ്രിയമെന്ന് പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• जप्या: to be recited
• जप्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), 'to be recited'

• जप-आदौ: in japa and the like
• जप-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जपः आदिः यस्मिन्/यत्र)

• गोपाल-मनूनाम्: of the Gopāla-mantras
• गोपाल-मनूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोपालस्य मनवः/मनूनाम्)

• जन-रञ्जनी: delighter of people
• जन-रञ्जनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + रञ्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जनान् रञ्जयति इति)

• हृदयम्: heart (core mantra)
• हृदयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कामदेवाय: for Kāmadeva
• कामदेवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• ङेंतम्: 'ṅeṃta' (seed-syllable)
• ङेंतम्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ङेंत (मन्त्र-बीज/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मन्त्र-शब्द (seed-syllable)

• सर्व-जन-प्रियम्: dear to all people
• सर्व-जन-प्रियम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां जनानां प्रियम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-mantra context, in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gopala
• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

It highlights the disciplined structure of mantra-practice: starting japa with an appropriate Gopāla-related formula and using a specific hṛdaya-mantra to concentrate the deity’s essence, aiming at inner attraction toward dharma and devotion.

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

By emphasizing Gopāla-mantra japa, it frames devotion as a repeatable, heart-centered practice where the divine name/formula is approached with method—beginning correctly and focusing on the mantra’s ‘heart’ (hṛdaya) to deepen loving remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects procedural mantra-vidhi—how and when to apply specific mantras in japa—aligned with Śikṣā (sound/recitation discipline) and broader ritual method, including attention to bija/hṛdaya components used in technical mantra traditions.