Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अंजनाभं चतुर्वक्त्रं भीमदंतं भयावहम् । अघोरं त्रीक्षणं याम्ये पूजयेन्मंत्रवित्तमः ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

aṃjanābhaṃ caturvaktraṃ bhīmadaṃtaṃ bhayāvaham | aghoraṃ trīkṣaṇaṃ yāmye pūjayenmaṃtravittamaḥ || 95 ||

Translation

Im südlichen Viertel soll der vorzüglichste Kenner der Mantras die Gottheit verehren: dunkel wie Anjana, viergesichtig, mit furchterregenden Zähnen, Ehrfurcht einflößend, und doch ihrem Wesen nach Aghora—nicht schrecklich—und dreiaugig.

Word by Word

• अञ्जनाभम्: having collyrium-like (dark) lustre
• अञ्जनाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जन-आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter, accusative singular)

• चतुर्वक्त्रम्: four-faced
• चतुर्वक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter, accusative singular)

• भीमदन्तम्: with terrible teeth
• भीमदन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भयावहम्: bringing fear
• भयावहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अघोरम्: non-terrible; benign (Aghora)
• अघोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रीक्षणम्: three-eyed
• त्रीक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• याम्ये: in the southern quarter
• याम्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; दिशि/दिक्-विशेषे (locative singular)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should worship)

• मन्त्रवित्तमः: the best knower of mantras
• मन्त्रवित्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + विद् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘वित्तम’ = तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)

Speaker

Narada (within an instructional discourse on mantra-vidya/ritual procedure, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization marks) for worship in a specific direction, emphasizing that mantra practice requires disciplined, detail-correct ritual attention rather than vague devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, methodical upāsanā—worship performed with focused contemplation of the deity’s form and placement (southern quarter), showing devotion aligned with śāstric procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—directional placement (dik-vinyāsa) and mantra-based worship (mantra-vidyā), a technical component often associated with kalpa-style procedural knowledge used in pūjā and homa.