Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 104

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

वामोरुस्थप्रियोरोजन्यस्तहस्तं च बिभ्रतम् । वेदटंकेष्मभयं ध्यायेत्सर्वेश्वरं शिवम् ॥ १०४ ॥

Transliteration

vāmorusthapriyorojanyastahastaṃ ca bibhratam | vedaṭaṃkeṣmabhayaṃ dhyāyetsarveśvaraṃ śivam || 104 ||

Translation

Qu’on médite sur Śiva, le Seigneur de tout : la main posée sur la Bien-aimée assise sur sa cuisse gauche, tenant les Veda sur ses genoux, exempt de toute crainte.

Word by Word

• वाम-ऊरु-स्थ-प्रिय-ऊरोज-न्यस्त-हस्तम्: whose hand is placed on the beloved’s left thigh/breast
• वाम-ऊरु-स्थ-प्रिय-ऊरोज-न्यस्त-हस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम + ऊरु + स्थ + प्रिय + ऊरोज + न्यस्त + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘वामोरुस्थ’ (वामे ऊरौ स्थितः), ‘प्रिय-ऊरोज’ (प्रियस्याः ऊरोजः), तस्मिन् न्यस्तः हस्तः यस्य

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बिभ्रतम्: bearing/holding
• बिभ्रतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(तम्) बिभ्रतम्’

• वेद-टङ्क-ईष्म-भयम्: the Veda, axe, īṣma (weapon/implement), and fearlessness (as attributes)
• वेद-टङ्क-ईष्म-भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + टङ्क + ईष्म + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः—वेदः, टङ्कः, ईष्मः, भयम् (अस्त्र/चिह्न-समूह)

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate upon
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of all
• सर्व-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्वेश्वर’ = सर्वेषां ईश्वरः

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/dhyana context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific dhyāna (contemplative visualization) of Sarveśvara Śiva, emphasizing fearlessness and Vedic authority—Śiva is meditated upon as the holder of the Vedas and the source of abhaya (freedom from fear).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused remembrance and visualization (dhyāna) of the deity’s compassionate, household form with the beloved (Pārvatī), cultivating trust and inner fearlessness through sustained devotional contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dhyāna-lakṣaṇa and iconographic specification used in ritual and mantra practice—how to form a precise mental image for worship, a practical aid aligned with technical disciplines supporting correct sādhana.