Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

बालेंदुशेखरोल्लासिमुकुटं पश्चिमे यजेत् । कर्पूरेंदुनिभं सौम्यं सद्योजातं त्रिलोचनम् ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

bāleṃduśekharollāsimukuṭaṃ paścime yajet | karpūreṃdunibhaṃ saumyaṃ sadyojātaṃ trilocanam || 97 ||

Translation

Im Westen soll man die Gestalt verehren, deren Krone vom Mondsichelglanz erstrahlt; den sanften Sadyojāta, dreiaugig, leuchtend wie Kampfer und Mond.

Word by Word

• बालेंदुशेखरोल्लासिमुकुटम्: a crown shining with a crescent-moon crest
• बालेंदुशेखरोल्लासिमुकुटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल-इन्दु + शेखर + उल्लासि + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-समास (a crown shining with a crescent-moon crest)

• पश्चिमे: in the western quarter
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; दिशि (locative singular)

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

• कर्पूरेन्दुनिभम्: like camphor and the moon (moon-white)
• कर्पूरेन्दुनिभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर-इन्दु + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘निभ’ = सदृशार्थक (like)

• सौम्यम्: gentle; auspicious
• सौम्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सद्योजातम्: Sadyojāta (the immediately-born aspect/name)
• सद्योजातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्यः + जात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (सद्यः=immediately + जात=born)

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

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada a technical ritual/nyāsa visualization within the Vedāṅga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sadyojāta
• Śiva (implied by tri-locana and pañcabrahma context)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise contemplative worship: aligning a specific divine aspect (Sadyojāta) with the western direction and meditating on recognizable marks (crescent-moon crown, three eyes) to stabilize mantra-japa and inner visualization.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused upāsanā—loving, steady attention to a compassionate form (‘saumya’) with clear attributes, turning devotion into disciplined remembrance during worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and directional placement (dik-vinyāsa) are emphasized—how to map deity-aspects to directions and iconographic cues, a technical aid for correct performance of worship and nyāsa.