Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

शिरोवदनहृद्गुह्यपाददेशे यथाक्रमात् । उर्द्धप्राग्दक्षिणोदीच्यपश्चिमेषु मुखेषु च ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

śirovadanahṛdguhyapādadeśe yathākramāt | urddhaprāgdakṣiṇodīcyapaścimeṣu mukheṣu ca || 55 ||

Translation

In rechter Ordnung—am Haupt, am Mund, am Herzen, in der geheimen (zeugenden) Region und im Bereich der Füße—gibt es ebenfalls Gesichter, die der Reihe nach nach oben, nach Osten, nach Süden, nach Norden und nach Westen ausgerichtet sind.

Word by Word

• śiraḥ-vadana-hṛt-guhya-pāda-deśe: in the places (regions) of head, face, heart, groin, and feet
• śiraḥ-vadana-hṛt-guhya-pāda-deśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras + vadana + hṛd + guhya + pāda + deśa (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समाहार-स्थानीयः (in/at the region of head, face, heart, secret part, feet)

• yathā-kramāt: in due order
• yathā-kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + krama (अव्यय + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb)

• ūrdhva-prāk-dakṣiṇa-udīcya-paścimeṣu: in the upper, east, south, north, and west (directions)
• ūrdhva-prāk-dakṣiṇa-udīcya-paścimeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva + prāc + dakṣiṇa + udīcya + paścima (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; दिशावाचक-द्वन्द्वः (in the upper, eastern, southern, northern, western [faces/places])

• mukheṣu: in the faces/mouths
• mukheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/Vedanga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined correspondence between body-points and cosmic directions, implying that ritual practice sanctifies the practitioner by aligning the microcosm (body) with the macrocosm (dik/space).

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti-based worship by prescribing orderly bodily and directional orientation used in mantra and pūjā, helping the devotee maintain focus, purity, and reverence during Vishnu-centered rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-Śikṣā style procedural knowledge is implied—how to apply ordered placements/orientations (useful in nyāsa and ritual setup) by associating specific body loci with specific directions.