Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

शूलं टंकं कृपाणं च वज्राग्न्यहिपतीन्करैः । दधानंभूषणोद्दीप्तं घण्टापाशवराभयान् ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

śūlaṃ ṭaṃkaṃ kṛpāṇaṃ ca vajrāgnyahipatīnkaraiḥ | dadhānaṃbhūṣaṇoddīptaṃ ghaṇṭāpāśavarābhayān || 89 ||

Translation

In seinen Händen trägt er Dreizack, Axt und Schwert—ebenso Vajra, Feuer und den Herrn der Schlangen; von Schmuck strahlend, hält er auch eine Glocke, ein Fangseil, die Geste der Gnadengabe und die Geste der Furchtlosigkeit.

Word by Word

• शूलम्: trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• टङ्कम्: axe/pick (ṭaṅka)
• टङ्कम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: टङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• कृपाणम्: sword
• कृपाणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

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

• वज्र-अग्नि-अहि-पतीन्: (the) vajra, fire, and serpent-lords (as weapons/attributes)
• वज्र-अग्नि-अहि-पतीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + अहि (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमास (vajra, fire, and serpent-lords), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• करैः: with (his) hands
• करैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr.3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• दधानम्: bearing/holding
• दधानम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier of the meditated form)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु) → दधान (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• भूषण-उद्दीप्तम्: resplendent with ornaments
• भूषण-उद्दीप्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्दीप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (‘bright with ornaments’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• घण्टा-पाश-वर-अभयान्: bell, noose, boon, and (gesture of) fearlessness
• घण्टा-पाश-वर-अभयान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमास (bell, noose, boon, and fearlessness), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), बहुवचन (pl.)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Ahi-pati (lord of serpents)

FAQs

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

The verse conveys a protective, sovereignty-bearing divine form: weapons symbolize the destruction of obstacles and ignorance, while the boon-giving and fearlessness gestures affirm refuge, grace, and spiritual security for the devotee.

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

By presenting the deity as both powerful (weapons, mastery over fire and serpents) and compassionate (vara and abhaya), the verse supports bhakti as surrender to a Lord who protects, disciplines, and blesses.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This is primarily an applied ritual/technical cue: iconographic identifiers used in worship and dhyāna (meditative visualization) support correct ritual practice, aligning with Vedanga-style precision in liturgical description.