Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अंशुमालिन्यथ परा प्रणवाद्या नमोन्विताः । पूर्वपश्चिमयाम्योदग्वक्त्रेषु तदनंतरम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

aṃśumālinyatha parā praṇavādyā namonvitāḥ | pūrvapaścimayāmyodagvaktreṣu tadanaṃtaram || 66 ||

Translation

Dann (die Mantra-Reihe), die mit „Aṃśumālinī“ beginnt; und danach die nächste Gruppe, die mit dem Praṇava (Oṃ) anhebt und mit der Verehrungsformel „namaḥ“ verbunden ist, soll anschließend auf die nach Osten, Westen, Süden und Norden gerichteten Gesichter gesetzt werden.

Word by Word

• अंशुमालिनी: (the) garlanded with rays
• अंशुमालिनी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशु-मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अंशूनां मालिनी = अंशुमालिनी)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/next)

• परा: supreme / higher
• परा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रणवाद्या: beginning with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवाद्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव-आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रणवः आदिः यस्याः = प्रणवाद्या)

• नमोन्विताः: accompanied by ‘namaḥ’
• नमोन्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमः-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नमसा अन्विताः = नमोन्विताः)

• पूर्व: eastern
• पूर्व: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• पश्चिम: western
• पश्चिम: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• याम्य: southern
• याम्य: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• उदक्: northern
• उदक्: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदक्/उदञ्च् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग); दिक्शब्दः (north)

• वक्त्रेषु: in the faces/mouths
• वक्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Vedanga/ritual-technical teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-application: sacred formulas (beginning with Oṃ and ending with namaḥ) are not used randomly but are arranged according to directions, aligning the practitioner’s worship with cosmic order (ṛta) and ritual correctness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through precise upāsanā—honoring the Divine with reverent salutations (namaḥ) and the praṇava (Oṃ), and performing worship in an orderly, direction-conscious manner that reflects attentiveness and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and mantra-nyāsa style orientation—assigning mantras to directional “faces” (east, west, south, north), a technical aspect of Vedic/Āgamic practice closely tied to correct recitation and placement.