Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

एवं न्यस्तशरीरोऽसौ चिन्तयेत्पार्वतीपतिम् । ध्यायेन्नित्यं महेशानं रौप्यपर्वतसन्निभम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ nyastaśarīro'sau cintayetpārvatīpatim | dhyāyennityaṃ maheśānaṃ raupyaparvatasannibham || 13 ||

Translation

Ainsi, le corps établi par le nyāsa, qu’il contemple le Seigneur, époux de Pārvatī. Qu’il médite sans cesse sur Maheśāna, éclatant tel une montagne d’argent.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘thus/in this manner’

• न्यस्त-शरीरः: one whose body has been (ritually) placed/arranged
• न्यस्त-शरीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यस्त (कृदन्त; नि-√अस्) + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘न्यस्त’ + कर्मधारयः — ‘having placed (nyāsa) on the body / with body arranged’

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम — ‘he/that person’

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — ‘should contemplate’

• पार्वती-पतिम्: Pārvatī’s lord
• पार्वती-पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘husband of Pārvatī’

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — ‘should meditate’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial accusative) — ‘always’

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• रौप्य-पर्वत-सन्निभम्: like a silver mountain
• रौप्य-पर्वत-सन्निभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः — ‘resembling a silver mountain’ (qualifying महेशानम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on contemplative practice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Maheshana (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches a concrete dhyāna-method: first still the body (nyasta-śarīra), then sustain single-pointed contemplation of Maheśāna, using a luminous form-image (“like a silver mountain”) to stabilize the mind.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as continual remembrance and meditation (nityaṃ dhyāna) on the chosen Lord—Pārvatīpati—making devotion steady through repeated inner visualization and reverent contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied upāsanā procedure—discipline of posture/composure and prescribed visualization—aligned with technical instruction typical of Book 1.3’s practical, method-oriented teaching style rather than narrative praise alone.