Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

भूसद्मनाभिवृतमस्रगमन्मथेन गोरोचनाविलिखितं तपनीयसूच्या । पट्टे हिरण्यरचिते गुलिकीकृतं तद्गोपालयंत्रमखिलार्थदमेतदुक्तम् ॥ १५६ ॥

Transliteration

bhūsadmanābhivṛtamasragamanmathena gorocanāvilikhitaṃ tapanīyasūcyā | paṭṭe hiraṇyaracite gulikīkṛtaṃ tadgopālayaṃtramakhilārthadametaduktam || 156 ||

Translation

بھوسدمن کے نشان اور اسراگمن منمتھ کے لَانچھن سے گھرا ہوا، گوروچنا سے خالص سونے کی سوئی کے ذریعے لکھا گیا؛ پھر سونے کے پٹّے میں لپیٹ کر چھوٹی گولی بنا کر سونے کے لاکٹ میں رکھا جائے—یہی ‘گوپال یَنتر’ کہلاتا ہے، جو تمام مقاصد عطا کرنے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

• bhū-sadmanā: by/with the earth-abode (i.e., earthly base)
• bhū-sadmanā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + sadman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (भू-सद्मन् = earth-dwelling/earth-abode)

• abhivṛtam: covered, enclosed
• abhivṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; agrees with implied 'yantram'

• asrak: with blood
• asrak: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asṛj/asra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (Vedic/irregular stem asrak)

• amanmathena: with (that which is) without desire/Manmatha
• amanmathena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-manmatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'a-' privative

• gorocanā: with yellow pigment (gorocanā)
• gorocanā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gorocanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (understood with next participle as means)

• avilikhitam: inscribed, written
• avilikhitam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√likh (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; agrees with 'yantram'

• tapanīya-sūcyā: with a golden needle
• tapanīya-sūcyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapanīya (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (tapanīya=golden + sūcī=needle)

• paṭṭe: on a cloth/band
• paṭṭe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• hiraṇya-racite: made of gold
• hiraṇya-racite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + racita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with 'paṭṭe'; तत्पुरुषः (made of gold)

• gulikī-kṛtam: made into small pellets/beads
• gulikī-kṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gulikī (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (made into pellets/beads)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• gopāla-yantram: the Gopāla yantra
• gopāla-yantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक) + yantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (Gopāla-related yantra)

• akhila-artha-dam: granting all purposes/boons
• akhila-artha-dam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; agrees with 'yantram'; तत्पुरुषः (giver of all aims/benefits)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• uktam: is said/declared
• uktam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative Singular; impersonal passive sense 'has been said'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gopala (Vishnu/Krishna)

FAQs

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

It presents a concrete ritual technology—constructing and wearing a Gopāla-yantra—as a support for devotion and protection, promising success in the four aims of life through Vishnu/Krishna-centered upāsanā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent making, consecrating, and carrying a sacred emblem of Gopāla; the external yantra functions as a continual reminder and locus of faith in the Lord’s guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure (prayoga): prescribed materials (gorocanā, gold), instrument (gold needle), medium (plate/foil), and method (rolling into a pellet and placing in a gold locket) typical of applied sacred sciences in Book 1.3.