Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

नंदितं च यजेत्सौम्यां । रत्नभूषणमंडितम् परश्वधवराभीतिटंकिनं श्यामविग्रहम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

naṃditaṃ ca yajetsaumyāṃ | ratnabhūṣaṇamaṃḍitam paraśvadhavarābhītiṭaṃkinaṃ śyāmavigraham || 45 ||

Translation

Man soll auch die sanfte (Saumyā) Gestalt namens Nandita verehren—mit Juwelenschmuck geschmückt—eine Axt tragend, Gaben spendend, die Geste der Furchtlosigkeit zeigend und ein kleines Glöckchen haltend, mit dunkel schimmerndem Leib (śyāma).

Word by Word

• नन्दितम्: gladdened/pleased (one)
• नन्दितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दित (कृदन्त; √नन्द् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘नन्दित’ = ‘प्रसन्नीकृत/आनन्दित’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सौम्याम्: the gentle/auspicious (goddess/form)
• सौम्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine object implied, e.g., देवताम्/मूर्तिम्)

• रत्नभूषणमण्डितम्: adorned with jeweled ornaments
• रत्नभूषणमण्डितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न-भूषण-मण्डित (कृदन्त; √मण्ड्/मण्डि धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष) ‘रत्नभूषणैः मण्डितम्’

• परश्वधवराभीतिटङ्किनम्: bearing axe, boon, fearlessness, and a pick/hammer
• परश्वधवराभीतिटङ्किनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परश्वध-वर-अभीति-टङ्किन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चय) ‘परश्वधः + वर + अभीति + टङ्किन्’ (हस्त-आयुध/मुद्राः सूच्यन्ते)

• श्यामविग्रहम्: dark-bodied (one)
• श्यामविग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम-विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘श्यामः विग्रहः यस्य/यः’ (as descriptive epithet)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, instructing ritual/meditative iconography)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nandita
• Saumya (gentle form)

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is strengthened by precise contemplation and worship of a benevolent divine form, described through recognizable attributes (weapons, mudrās, and ornaments) that embody protection, grace, and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as upāsanā—worship through a clear, affectionate visualization of the deity’s gentle form, focusing on signs of refuge (abhaya) and divine generosity (vara), which cultivate trust and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical knowledge is emphasized: murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) used in pūjā and dhyāna, aligning practice with correct form, gestures (mudrā), and implements for effective upāsanā.