Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अथ भृंगिं रिटिं स्कंदमेतान्पद्मासनस्थितान् । स्वर्णतोयारुणश्याममुक्तेंदुसितपाटलान् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

atha bhṛṃgiṃ riṭiṃ skaṃdametānpadmāsanasthitān | svarṇatoyāruṇaśyāmamukteṃdusitapāṭalān || 30 ||

Translation

Dann soll man Bhṛṅgī, Riṭi und Skanda — diese Gottheiten, auf Lotosthronen sitzend — betrachten (oder darstellen), in Farben wie goldenes Wasser, Morgenröte-Rot und dunkles Blau; ebenso perlenhaft, mondweiß und zartrosenfarben.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचना)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; then/thereafter)

• भृङ्गिम्: Bhṛṅgī (name)
• भृङ्गिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रिटिम्: Riṭi (name)
• रिटिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्कन्दम्: Skanda
• स्कन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally)

• पद्मासन-स्थितान्: seated on lotus-seats
• पद्मासन-स्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मासन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: समास: पद्मासने स्थिताः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); स्थित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्वर्ण-तोय-अरुण-श्याम-मुक्त-इन्दु-सित-पाटलान्: (having hues) golden, watery, reddish, dark, pearly, moonlike, white, pink
• स्वर्ण-तोय-अरुण-श्याम-मुक्त-इन्दु-सित-पाटलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + सित (प्रातिपदिक) + पाटल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुपद-समाहार/समुच्चय-द्वन्द्व (co-ordinative list of colors/complexions); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (describing the deities as having golden/watery? reddish/dark/pearly/moonlike/white/pink hues)

Speaker

Narada (teaching/reciting a technical-ritual description in the Vedanga/kalpa-style context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛṅgī
• Riṭi
• Skanda

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dhyāna (ritual visualization): specific forms, seats (lotus-thrones), and color-hues are prescribed so the worshipper’s mind becomes steady and aligned with the deity’s presence.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through focused contemplation—remembering the deity with clear attributes (āsana and varṇa). Such precise remembrance supports one-pointed devotion during pūjā and mantra-japa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Vedāṅga-style ritual method: specifying dhyāna-lakṣaṇas (iconographic details like posture and color) as practical instructions for correct worship procedure.