Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

कृष्णो रुद्रो महाघोरो भीमो भीषण उज्ज्वलः । करालो विकरालश्च दैत्यान्तो मधुसूदनः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇo rudro mahāghoro bhīmo bhīṣaṇa ujjvalaḥ | karālo vikarālaśca daityānto madhusūdanaḥ || 8 ||

Translation

祂是黑天（Kṛṣṇa）；祂亦是鲁陀罗（Rudra）——威怖至极。祂是怖畏者（Bhīma），可畏而光耀；祂是狰狞者（Karāla）与更狰狞者（Vikarāla）——祂是诛灭代底耶的摩度苏丹那（Madhusūdana）。

Word by Word

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa / the dark one
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता) [as epithet list]
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि

• महाघोरः: very terrible
• महाघोरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् घोरः)

• भीमः: fearsome
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भीषणः: dreadful
• भीषणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उज्ज्वलः: radiant
• उज्ज्वलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करालः: grim/with gaping mouth
• करालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विकरालः: very grim
• विकरालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण (अतिशय-करालः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दैत्यान्तः: ender/destroyer of demons
• दैत्यान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दैत्यानाम् अन्तः = नाशकः/संहारः)

• मधुसूदनः: slayer of Madhu
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मधोः सूदनः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Rudra
• Daityas
• Madhusudana

FAQs

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

It affirms the Lord’s all-encompassing nature: the same Supreme (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa) can appear gentle or fiercely protective, destroying demonic forces and safeguarding dharma.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through nāma-stuti—remembering and reciting the Lord’s powerful names and attributes, cultivating surrender to His protective and victorious power.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is the disciplined use of sacred nomenclature (nāma) and precise recitation—aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (correct forms)—to preserve meaning and spiritual potency.