Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39
Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana
Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras
तथा बालवपुःकृष्णं गोविंदं च तथा पुनः । दशार्णोऽतो भवेन्मंत्रो द्वात्रिंशदक्षरान्वितः ॥ ३९ ॥
tathā bālavapuḥkṛṣṇaṃ goviṃdaṃ ca tathā punaḥ | daśārṇo'to bhavenmaṃtro dvātriṃśadakṣarānvitaḥ || 39 ||
അതുപോലെ ‘ബാലവപുഃ ശ്യാമകൃഷ്ണൻ’ എന്നും, വീണ്ടും ‘ഗോവിന്ദൻ’ എന്നും ചേർത്താൽ ഈ മന്ത്രം ദശാർണ്ണമാകുന്നു; ഉച്ചാരണരൂപത്തിൽ മുപ്പത്തിരണ്ട് അക്ഷരങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തമാകും॥३९॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches how a Vishnu/Krishna-focused mantra is deliberately expanded by adding specific divine epithets, emphasizing that precise formulation (syllables/letters) supports effective japa and focused bhakti.
By prescribing names and attributes like “child-form Krishna” and “Govinda,” the verse directs the mind to a personal, lovable form of the Lord—an essential bhakti method for steadiness in remembrance and worship.
It highlights mantra-śāstra discipline tied to Vedanga concerns—especially śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (correct word-form), shown through daśārṇa (syllable-count) and dvātriṃśad-akṣara (letter/phoneme count) precision.