Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

मुशलाढ्यधनुः पाशांकुशैः प्रोक्तं द्वितीयकम् । सनकादिकशाक्तेयव्यासनारदशौनकैः ॥ १२५ ॥

Transliteration

muśalāḍhyadhanuḥ pāśāṃkuśaiḥ proktaṃ dvitīyakam | sanakādikaśākteyavyāsanāradaśaunakaiḥ || 125 ||

Translation

രണ്ടാമത്തേതു മുശലം, ധനുസ്സ്, പാശം, അങ്കുശം എന്നിവ ധരിച്ചതായി പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു; ഇത് സനകാദി ഋഷികളും ശാക്തേയൻ, വ്യാസൻ, നാരദൻ, ശൗനകൻ എന്നിവരും ഉപദേശിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• मुशल-आढ्य-धनुः: the bow furnished with a club (mace)
• मुशल-आढ्य-धनुः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुशल (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मुशलेन आढ्यं धनुः/धनुस्)

• पाश-अंकुशैः: with noose and goad
• पाश-अंकुशैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अंकुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: विधेय (predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (द्वितीयकम् इति)

• द्वितीयकम्: the second (set/enclosure)
• द्वितीयकम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सनक-आदिक-शाक्तेय-व्यासनारद-शौनकैः: with Sanaka and others, Śākteya, Vyāsa, Nārada, and Śaunaka
• सनक-आदिक-शाक्तेय-व्यासनारद-शौनकैः: करण/सह (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदिक (प्रातिपदिक) + शाक्तेय (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बहुपद-द्वन्द्व-समासः (सनकादयः, शाक्तेयः, व्यासः, नारदः, शौनकः)

Speaker

Narada (within a teacher-to-disciple transmission line; framed as traditional attribution)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Śākteya
• Vyāsa
• Nārada
• Śaunaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes paramparā (authorized transmission): the “second” description is validated by a lineage of revered sages, indicating that ritual/meditative forms should be learned from recognized authorities.

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

Bhakti here is supported by correct upāsanā (devotional worship): knowing the deity’s attributes (pestle, bow, noose, goad) helps the devotee contemplate the form with precision as taught in the tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical upāsanā-vidhi and mantra-śāstra style cataloging—how forms and their emblems are specified for ritual visualization and correct application in worship.