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 ||
Do mesmo modo, ao acrescentar “Kṛṣṇa de tonalidade escura, com forma de criança”, e novamente acrescentar “Govinda”, o mantra torna-se uma fórmula de dez sílabas (daśārṇa), dotada de trinta e duas letras em sua forma fonética completa.
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.