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 ||
तसेच ‘बालवपु श्याम कृष्ण’ आणि पुन्हा ‘गोविंद’ हे पद जोडल्यास हा मंत्र दशार्ण होतो व उच्चाररूपाने बत्तीस अक्षरांनी युक्त ठरतो॥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.