Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

कृष्णमंत्ररहस्यं च स्मर विस्मृतिमागतम् । सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तो नारदो विप्राः कुमारेण तु धीमता ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇamaṃtrarahasyaṃ ca smara vismṛtimāgatam | sūta uvāca | ityukto nārado viprāḥ kumāreṇa tu dhīmatā || 2 ||

Translation

“Và hãy nhớ lại bí mật của Kṛṣṇa-mantra, điều đã trôi khỏi ký ức.” Sūta nói: Được vị Kumāra trí tuệ nói như thế, Nārada (hỡi các bà-la-môn) …

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-mantra-rahasyam: the secret of the Kṛṣṇa-mantra
• kṛṣṇa-mantra-rahasyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + mantra + rahasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• smara: remember
• smara: Kriyā (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vismṛti-māgatam: that has fallen into forgetfulness
• vismṛti-māgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vismṛti + āgata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies ‘rahasyam’; sense: ‘that which has come into forgetfulness’

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; speaker tag

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle

• uktaḥ: having been addressed
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject described)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with ‘nāradaḥ’

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन); address to audience

• kumāreṇa: by the Kumāra (Sanatkumāra)
• kumāreṇa: Karta (कर्ता/agent-instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (emphasis/contrast)

• dhīmatā: wise
• dhīmatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘kumāreṇa’

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Narada
• Sanatkumara (Kumara)

FAQs

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

It signals the transmission of an esoteric Kṛṣṇa-mantra teaching (rahasya) and emphasizes smaraṇa—deliberate recollection—as the doorway to restoring lost spiritual insight.

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

By centering the “Kṛṣṇa-mantra” and the act of remembering it, the verse frames bhakti as sustained remembrance and receptivity to guidance from realized teachers like the Kumāras.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the disciplined use of mantra and memory—skills supported by Vedāṅga tools such as Śikṣā (correct recitation) and Vyākaraṇa (clarity of wording), preparing the listener for precise transmission of mantra-rahasya.