Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

चक्रशंखाभयाभीष्टकरां मरकतप्रभाम् । दुर्गां प्रपूजयेत्सौम्यां त्रिनेत्रां चारुभूषणाम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

cakraśaṃkhābhayābhīṣṭakarāṃ marakataprabhām | durgāṃ prapūjayetsaumyāṃ trinetrāṃ cārubhūṣaṇām || 43 ||

Translation

Man soll die sanfte Göttin Durgā gebührend verehren, smaragdgleich strahlend. In ihren Händen hält sie Diskus und Muschel, gewährt Furchtlosigkeit und die ersehnten Gaben; sie ist dreiaugig und mit schönen Schmuckstücken geziert.

Word by Word

• cakra-śaṅkha-abhaya-abhīṣṭa-karām: (her) whose hands (hold/show) discus, conch, fearlessness, and boon
• cakra-śaṅkha-abhaya-abhīṣṭa-karām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhīṣṭa (कृदन्त; √iṣ/इष्) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘yasyāḥ karāḥ cakra-śaṅkha-abhaya-abhīṣṭa (mudrā/varadāna)’ = ‘whose hands (bear) discus, conch, fearlessness, and boon’

• marakata-prabhām: emerald-radiant
• marakata-prabhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: marakata (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘marakatasya prabhā iva’ (emerald-like radiance)

• durgām: Durgā
• durgām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pra-pūjayet: should worship well/with special honor
• pra-pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); with prefix pra- (intensive/fully)

• saumyām: gentle/auspicious
• saumyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tri-netrām: three-eyed
• tri-netrām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या) + netrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘three-eyed’

• cāru-bhūṣaṇām: beautifully adorned
• cāru-bhūṣaṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘cāruṇi bhūṣaṇāni yasyāḥ’ (also interpretable as bahuvrīhi in sense)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Durga

FAQs

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

The verse gives a dhyāna-style description of Durgā, emphasizing her protective power (abhaya) and boon-bestowing grace (abhīṣṭa), guiding the devotee to approach her with reverent, properly performed worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through upāsanā: the devotee contemplates the Goddess’ auspicious form and attributes and then performs prapūjā (formal worship), uniting inner meditation with outer devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual discipline and deity-iconography used in worship (a practical application aligned with kalpa-style procedure), where precise form-description supports correct dhyāna and pūjā.