Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

शिरोवदनहृत्कुक्षिसोरुपादद्वये पुनः । हृदि वक्त्रांबुजे टंकमृगा भयवरेष्वथ ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

śirovadanahṛtkukṣisorupādadvaye punaḥ | hṛdi vaktrāṃbuje ṭaṃkamṛgā bhayavareṣvatha || 9 ||

Translation

Wiederum, in den beiden (göttlichen) Füßen, in den Schenkeln, im Bauch, im Herzen, im Gesicht und im Haupt—dann im Herzen und im Lotus des Mundes—soll man die vorgeschriebenen Sinnbilder betrachten: den Aṅkuśa (Elefantenhaken), den Hirsch, die Geste der Furchtlosigkeit (Abhaya) und die Geste des Segens/Spendens (Varada).

Word by Word

• शिरः-वदन-हृत्-कुक्षि-सोरु-पाद-द्वये: in the pair consisting of head, face, heart, belly, thighs, and feet
• शिरः-वदन-हृत्-कुक्षि-सोरु-पाद-द्वये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् + वदन + हृत् + कुक्षि + स-ऊरु + पाद + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'द्वय' (pair) as head of compound

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वक्त्र-अम्बुजे: in the lotus of the mouth (mouth-lotus)
• वक्त्र-अम्बुजे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अम्बुज = lotus

• टङ्क-मृगाः: the ṭaṅka-deer (named beings)
• टङ्क-मृगाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: टङ्क + मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भय-वरेषु: in (the places called) Bhaya and Vara
• भय-वरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• अथ: then / next
• अथ: Sambandha/Anukrama (सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequencing particle)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-visualization context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches a structured dhyāna (contemplative) method: the devotee mentally places sacred emblems and mudrās across specific bodily/divine loci, stabilizing attention and invoking protective and beneficent qualities (abhaya and vara).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused remembrance (smaraṇa) through form-based meditation: contemplating the deity’s auspicious signs and gestures cultivates trust, fearlessness, and surrender—key devotional attitudes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual procedure akin to mantra-vidhi and dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (iconographic/visualization rules), a practical, methodical application of sacred science used in worship and recitation contexts.