Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां मंगला तदनंतरम् । ब्रह्माधिपतिः शब्दांते ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिः पुनः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ maṃgalā tadanaṃtaram | brahmādhipatiḥ śabdāṃte brahmaṇo'dhipatiḥ punaḥ || 64 ||

Translation

هو ربُّ جميعِ الكائنات؛ ثمّ يُدعَى «مَنگَلا» (Maṅgala) أي المباركُ الميمون. وفي خاتمةِ الكلمةِ المقدّسة يُسبَّحُ باسم «Brahmādhipati»؛ ثمّ أيضًا هو «Brahmaṇo’dhipati»، السيّدُ على البراهمان (Brahman).

Word by Word

• īśvaraḥ: Īśvara; the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa, Napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Bahuvacana

• maṃgalā: Maṅgalā (auspicious one; name/title)
• maṃgalā: Viśeṣya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃgalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• tat-anantaram: immediately thereafter
• tat-anantaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (अव्ययीभाव), adverbial accusative-neuter singular; ‘immediately after that’

• brahma-adhipatiḥ: Brahmā’s lord; lord over Brahman/Brahmā (Brahmādhipati)
• brahma-adhipatiḥ: Karta/Viśeṣya (Subject/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• śabda-ante: at the end of the syllable/word
• śabda-ante: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda + anta (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa, Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana; ‘at the end of the word/sound’

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman/of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana

• adhipatiḥ: lord; overlord
• adhipatiḥ: Viśeṣya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• punaḥ: again; further
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Adverb

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Brahman
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes God’s universal lordship and auspiciousness, teaching that the Supreme is praised through precise epithets—especially in mantra-recitation—affirming His sovereignty over all beings and even over Brahman/Brahmā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as nāma-smaraṇa and stuti: recognizing the Lord as Īśvara and Maṅgala and reciting His titles correctly, the devotee cultivates reverence, auspiciousness, and surrender to the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to śabda (sacred utterance) awareness—how epithets are placed and concluded in recitation—aligning with Vedanga concerns like Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā (correct wording and phonetic delivery).