Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

कामः कृष्णपदं ङेंतं वह्निजायांतकः परः । कृष्णगोविंदकौ ङेंतौ सप्तार्णः सर्वसिद्धिदः ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

kāmaḥ kṛṣṇapadaṃ ṅeṃtaṃ vahnijāyāṃtakaḥ paraḥ | kṛṣṇagoviṃdakau ṅeṃtau saptārṇaḥ sarvasiddhidaḥ || 91 ||

Translation

‘കാമ’ എന്ന ബീജം ‘കൃഷ്ണ’ പദത്തിന്റെ ങേ-അന്ത രൂപം. പരമ ശബ്ദം ‘വഹ്നിജായാന്തക’. ‘കൃഷ്ണ’യും ‘ഗോവിന്ദ’യും ങേ-അന്തമായി ചേർന്നാൽ സപ്താർണ മന്ത്രം; അത് സർവ്വസിദ്ധി നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• kāmaḥ: Kāma (as a seed/term)
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-padam: the word ‘kṛṣṇa’
• kṛṣṇa-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘kṛṣṇasya padam’ (the word ‘kṛṣṇa’)

• ṅeṃtam: ṅeṃta-ending (technical)
• ṅeṃtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṅeṃta (प्रातिपदिक; technical)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘padam’

• vahni-jāyā-anta-kaḥ: ending with ‘svāhā’ (technical)
• vahni-jāyā-anta-kaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vahni + jāyā + anta + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (technical): ending with ‘vahni-jāyā’ (svāhā); -ka as secondary suffix

• paraḥ: another
• paraḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-govindakau: Kṛṣṇa and Govinda
• kṛṣṇa-govindakau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘kṛṣṇaś ca govindaś ca’

• ṅeṃtau: ṅeṃta-ending (both)
• ṅeṃtau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṅeṃta (प्रातिपदिक; technical)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; qualifying the dvandva

• sapta-arṇaḥ: seven-syllabled
• sapta-arṇaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘sapta arṇāni yasya’ (seven-syllabled)

• sarva-siddhi-daḥ: giver of all accomplishments
• sarva-siddhi-daḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + siddhi + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘sarvāḥ siddhīḥ dadāti’ (giver of all attainments)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/mantra-vidhi passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Govinda

FAQs

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

It frames devotion to Krishna through a precisely counted mantra-form (saptārṇa), asserting that correct mantra-knowledge and recitation lead to “sarva-siddhi”—complete spiritual and worldly attainments.

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

By centering the divine names “Krishna” and “Govinda” as the effective mantra-body, it teaches nāma-bhakti: realization and results arise from disciplined remembrance and repetition of the Lord’s names.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedanga-style technicality—mantra syllable-counting (arṇa), phonetic designation, and correct identification of mantra units—used to standardize recitation and ritual application.