Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

कृष्णावतारसंप्रश्नो गोकुलीया कथा ततः । पूतनादिवधो बाल्ये कौमारेऽघादिहिंसनम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāvatārasaṃpraśno gokulīyā kathā tataḥ | pūtanādivadho bālye kaumāre'ghādihiṃsanam || 12 ||

Translation

ต่อมาคือการไต่ถามเรื่องอวตารของพระกฤษณะ แล้วตามด้วยเรื่องราวแห่งโคกุล; ในวัยทารกทรงปราบปูตนาและอื่น ๆ และในวัยเด็กทรงทำลายอฆะและศัตรูทำนองเดียวกัน

Word by Word

• कृष्णावतारसंप्रश्नः: the inquiry about Krishna’s incarnation
• कृष्णावतारसंप्रश्नः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण-अवतार-सम्प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृष्ण + अवतार + सम्प्रश्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णावतारस्य सम्प्रश्नः)

• गोकुलीया: pertaining to Gokula
• गोकुलीया: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोकुलीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त विशेषण (pertaining to Gokula)

• कथा: story/account
• कथा: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (काल/sequence adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• पूतनादिवधः: the slaying of Pūtanā and others
• पूतनादिवधः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूतना-आदि-वध (प्रातिपदिक; पूतना + आदि + वध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पूतनादीनां वधः)

• बाल्ये: in childhood
• बाल्ये: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कौमारे: in boyhood/early youth
• कौमारे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अघादिहिंसनम्: the killing of Agha and others
• अघादिहिंसनम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ-आदि-हिंसन (प्रातिपदिक; अघ + आदि + हिंसन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अघादीनां हिंसनम्)

Speaker

Suta (summarizing the Narada Purana’s Kṛṣṇa-līlā topics in the Anukramaṇikā style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Gokula
• Putana
• Aghasura

FAQs

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

It functions as an index-like summary, signaling that Kṛṣṇa’s avatāra and His childhood līlās (especially the removal of demonic forces) are presented as sacred themes that strengthen devotion and confidence in divine protection.

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

By foregrounding Kṛṣṇa’s Gokula narratives and His protective acts, the verse points to bhakti through śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of līlā—devotion grows by contemplating the Lord’s grace toward His devotees and His defeat of adharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (such as Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it is primarily a purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style topic heading that organizes narrative themes for recitation and study.