Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय गोब्राह्मणहिताय च । जगद्धिताय कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय नम्नोमः ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

namo brahmaṇyadevāya gobrāhmaṇahitāya ca | jagaddhitāya kṛṣṇāya govindāya namnomaḥ || 61 ||

Translation

ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ୍ୟଦେବ, ଗୋ-ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣହିତାୟ, ଜଗଦ୍ହିତକାରୀ—ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣ ଗୋବିନ୍ଦଙ୍କୁ ପୁନଃ ପୁନଃ ନମସ୍କାର।

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• brahmaṇya-devāya: to the god devoted to Brahman/Brāhmaṇas
• brahmaṇya-devāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmaṇya + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; brahmaṇya = ‘ब्राह्मण/वेद-धर्मे निष्ठः’ (devoted to Brahman/Brāhmaṇas)

• go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya: to the benefactor of cows and Brāhmaṇas
• go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: go + brāhmaṇa + hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘गवां ब्राह्मणानां च हितः’ (beneficial to cows and Brāhmaṇas)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• jagat-hitāya: to the benefactor of the world
• jagat-hitāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat + hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘जगतः हितः’ (beneficial to the world)

• kṛṣṇāya: to Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• govindāya: to Govinda
• govindāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• namnaḥ: of salutation
• namnaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘नमः’ का षष्ठी-रूप (of salutation)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Govinda
• Brahmanya-deva
• Go (cows)
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It presents Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) as the universal benefactor and the upholder of dharma—especially the protection of cows and Brāhmaṇas—making devotion (stuti) itself a dharmic act that aligns the devotee with jagad-hita (the welfare of all).

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

Bhakti is expressed through repeated salutations (namo namaḥ) and by recognizing God’s compassionate functions—protector of the righteous and benefactor of the world—so the devotee’s faith is grounded in the Lord’s dharmic guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedāṅga passage, it reflects dharma-prayoga: the Vedic social-ritual principle of honoring Brāhmaṇas (brahmaṇya) and protecting cows (go-rakṣā), themes that often guide ritual charity (dāna) and conduct in Purāṇic practice.