Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

पूर्वोक्तवैष्णवे पीठे यजेदष्टादशार्णवत् । पद्मस्थं कृष्णमभ्यर्च्य तर्पयेत्तन्मुखांबुजे ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

pūrvoktavaiṣṇave pīṭhe yajedaṣṭādaśārṇavat | padmasthaṃ kṛṣṇamabhyarcya tarpayettanmukhāṃbuje || 20 ||

Translation

पूर्वोक्ते वैष्णवे पीठे अष्टादशार्णविधिना यजेत्; पद्मस्थं कृष्णम् अभ्यर्च्य तन्मुखाम्बुजे तर्पणं समर्पयेत्।

Word by Word

• पूर्वोक्तवैष्णवे: on the previously-mentioned Vaiṣṇava
• पूर्वोक्तवैष्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्वोक्त + वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (पूर्वोक्तं वैष्णवं = previously-mentioned Vaiṣṇava)

• पीठे: on the pedestal/seat
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अष्टादशार्णवत्: in the manner of ‘eighteen-…’ (as prescribed)
• अष्टादशार्णवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टादश + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय ‘-वत्’ (like/as), अव्ययीभाव-प्राय प्रयोग; ‘like an eighteen-ocean (i.e., with 18-syllabled mantra/arrangement)’

• पद्मस्थम्: seated on a lotus
• पद्मस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मे स्थितः)

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libation
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तत्: his/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• मुखाम्बुजे: in/at the lotus-face
• मुखाम्बुजे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अम्बुजं मुखम् = lotus-like face)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links correct ritual setup (Vaiṣṇava pīṭha) with mantra-powered devotion, emphasizing that worship becomes complete when Kṛṣṇa is honored in form (padmastha) and then satisfied through a sanctified offering (tarpana).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, orderly service—adoring Kṛṣṇa with focused mantra-recitation and concluding with an offering meant to please Him, showing devotion through disciplined worship rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-style practice): using a prescribed altar-seat (pīṭha), a specific mantra-measure (aṣṭādaśa-syllabled), and a defined concluding act (tarpana), reflecting technical liturgical precision.