Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पाशांकुशवराभीष्टधारिणं कुंकुमप्रभम् । विघ्ननायकमभ्यर्चेच्चंद्रार्द्धकृतशेखरम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

pāśāṃkuśavarābhīṣṭadhāriṇaṃ kuṃkumaprabham | vighnanāyakamabhyarceccaṃdrārddhakṛtaśekharam || 46 ||

Translation

Man soll den Herrn verehren, der Schlinge und Haken trägt, der Gaben und ersehnte Wünsche gewährt, leuchtend wie Kumkuma—Gaṇeśa, der Lenker über die Hindernisse, dessen Scheitel mit dem Halbmond geschmückt ist.

Word by Word

• पाशाङ्कुशवराभीष्टधारिणम्: bearing noose, goad, boon, and desired gift
• पाशाङ्कुशवराभीष्टधारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश-अङ्कुश-वर-अभीष्ट-धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (समुच्चय) ‘पाशं च अङ्कुशं च वरं च अभीष्टं च धारयति’

• कुङ्कुमप्रभम्: having saffron-like radiance
• कुङ्कुमप्रभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुङ्कुम-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘कुङ्कुमस्य प्रभा इव’ (रूपक-विशेषण)

• विघ्ननायकम्: the leader/remover of obstacles (Gaṇeśa)
• विघ्ननायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न-नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘विघ्नानां नायकः’

• अभ्यर्चेत्: should worship
• अभ्यर्चेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः ‘अभि’

• चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखरम्: whose crest is made of a half-moon
• चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र-अर्ध-कृत-शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘चन्द्रस्य अर्धं कृतः शेखरः यस्य’

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure to the Sanatkumara tradition in the Vedanga/karma-kanda context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It prescribes Gaṇeśa-upāsanā as the first safeguard in sacred undertakings: worshipping Vighnanāyaka aligns the practitioner with orderly dharma and removes impediments to mantra, vrata, and ritual success.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, icon-focused worship (abhyarcet) of Gaṇeśa’s auspicious form—trusting the deity as boon-giver and obstacle-controller before proceeding to other devotions and rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects karma-kāṇḍa procedure and ritual sequencing—invoking Vighna-śānti through Gaṇeśa worship—an applied aspect of Kalpa (Vedāṅga dealing with ritual rules and performance).