Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 107

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

सूक्ष्मेशः शाल्मलीयुक्तो लोलाक्षीयुक्त्रिमूर्तिकः । महेश्वरो वर्तुलाक्ष्याधीशो वै दीर्घघोणया ॥ १०७ ॥

Transliteration

sūkṣmeśaḥ śālmalīyukto lolākṣīyuktrimūrtikaḥ | maheśvaro vartulākṣyādhīśo vai dīrghaghoṇayā || 107 ||

Translation

Sūkṣmeśa est associé au śālmalī, l’arbre au coton de soie. Lolākṣī est jointe au principe de la Trimūrti, aux trois formes. Maheśvara est le seigneur présidant sur Vartulākṣī et, de même, sur Dīrghaghoṇā.

Word by Word

• सूक्ष्मेशः: Sūkṣmeśa (lord of the subtle)
• सूक्ष्मेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (सूक्ष्माणाम् ईशः)

• शाल्मलीयुक्तः: associated with the śālmalī tree
• शाल्मलीयुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाल्मली-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (शाल्मल्या युक्तः)

• लोलाक्षीयुक्त्रिमूर्तिकः: having three forms endowed with rolling eyes
• लोलाक्षीयुक्त्रिमूर्तिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोल-अक्षी + युक्त-त्रिमूर्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose three forms are endowed with rolling eyes’ (लोलाक्षी-युक्ताः त्रयः मूर्तयः यस्य)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (the great lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular; कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• वर्तुलाक्ष्याधीशः: lord of the round-eyed (one)
• वर्तुलाक्ष्याधीशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्तुल-अक्षि + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वर्तुलाक्ष्याः अधीशः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed)

• दीर्घघोणया: with a long snout
• दीर्घघोणया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ-घोणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन; instrumental singular; कर्मधारय (दीर्घा घोणा)

Speaker

Narada (within a technical/vedanga-style cataloguing passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sūkṣmeśa
• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Śālmalī
• Lolākṣī
• Trimūrti
• Vartulākṣī
• Dīrghaghoṇā

FAQs

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

It presents a structured mapping of divine epithets and associated forms (including a sacred tree association), emphasizing that the Divine is approached through precise names, forms, and correspondences used in ritual, mantra, and contemplative identification.

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

Bhakti is supported here through name-based worship: specific epithets like Sūkṣmeśa and Maheśvara guide the devotee’s focus, enabling concentrated remembrance (smaraṇa) and japa by linking forms, attributes, and presiding aspects.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a Vedanga-like method of classification—precise nomenclature and correspondences (useful for mantra application and ritual manuals), aligning with technical traditions that systematize names, forms, and their ritual associations.