Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

पूजनं पूर्ववच्चास्य कर्तव्यं वैष्णवोत्तमैः । चक्री मुनिस्वरोपेतः सर्गी चैकाक्षरो मनुः ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

pūjanaṃ pūrvavaccāsya kartavyaṃ vaiṣṇavottamaiḥ | cakrī munisvaropetaḥ sargī caikākṣaro manuḥ || 88 ||

Translation

Việc thờ phụng Ngài phải được cử hành đúng như đã nói trước, bởi các bậc Vaiṣṇava tối thượng. Biểu tượng là bánh xe cakra; âm điệu kèm theo là giọng tụng của bậc hiền triết; hãy quán tưởng “sargī” là Đấng tạo tác; và thần chú là một âm tiết duy nhất.

Word by Word

• pūjanam: worship
• pūjanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; action-noun (भाववाचक)

• pūrvavat: as before
• pūrvavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvavat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• asya: of this (mantra/thing)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; pronoun-genitive

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• vaiṣṇavottamaiḥ: by the best Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavottamaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘vaiṣṇavānām uttamāḥ’ (best among Vaiṣṇavas)

• cakrī: (the mantra) ‘cakrī’ / ‘one who has the discus’
• cakrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; possessive noun

• muni-svara-upetaḥ: endowed with muni-tones
• muni-svara-upetaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni + svara + upeta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘muni-svaraiḥ upetaḥ’ (endowed with the sages’ svaras/tones)

• sargī: (the mantra) ‘sargī’ / ‘bearing creation/emanation’
• sargī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sargin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; possessive noun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eka-akṣaraḥ: one-syllabled
• eka-akṣaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘ekaḥ akṣaraḥ’ (single-syllabled)

• manuḥ: Manu (mantra-name/term)
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that authentic Vaiṣṇava worship is not improvised: it must follow the earlier prescribed procedure, including proper mantra-intonation (svara) and contemplation of the deity’s identifying mark (the cakra).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined, reverent service—performing pūjā ‘as taught’ by the tradition, with the deity remembered through clear identifiers (cakra) and mantra practice (ekākṣara manu).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Śikṣā (phonetics) through muni-svara—correct mantra accent/intonation—showing that ritual efficacy depends on accurate recitation alongside devotion.