Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46
Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana
Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras
तारो ह्यद्भगवानङेंतो रुक्मिणीवल्लभाय च । वह्निजायावधिः प्रोक्तो मंत्रः षोडशवर्णवान् ॥ ४६ ॥
tāro hyadbhagavānaṅeṃto rukmiṇīvallabhāya ca | vahnijāyāvadhiḥ prokto maṃtraḥ ṣoḍaśavarṇavān || 46 ||
‘तार’ पासून आरंभ होऊन ‘वह्निजाया’ येथे समाप्त होणारा हा सोळा-वर्णीय मंत्र रुक्मिणीवल्लभ भगवंतांस उद्देशून सांगितला आहे।
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It defines a specific Vaiṣṇava mantra by its beginning and ending syllables and confirms its sixteen-syllable form, emphasizing disciplined mantra-knowledge (mantra-vidhi) as a means of devotion to Bhagavān (Kṛṣṇa, Rukmiṇī’s beloved).
By identifying the Lord as “Rukmiṇī’s beloved,” the verse frames mantra-japa not as mere sound-ritual but as personal devotion directed to Bhagavān with a relational, bhakti-centered focus.
It highlights technical mantra specification—syllable count (ṣoḍaśa-varṇa) and phonetic boundaries (start/end markers)—which aligns with Śikṣā (phonetics) and the procedural precision expected in mantra practice.