Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पुरंदरमुखैर्देवैः सांगनाद्यैर्विलोकिते । वटवृक्षं महोच्छ्रायं पद्मरागफलोज्ज्लम् ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

puraṃdaramukhairdevaiḥ sāṃganādyairvilokite | vaṭavṛkṣaṃ mahocchrāyaṃ padmarāgaphalojjlam || 138 ||

Translation

Là se dressait un banian d’une hauteur majestueuse, rayonnant de fruits semblables à des rubis, contemplé par les dieux—menés par Purandara (Indra)—avec leurs suites et compagnons.

Word by Word

• puraṃdara-mukhaiḥ: by Indra and the chief ones
• puraṃdara-mukhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puraṃdara (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (puraṃdaraḥ ādiḥ yeṣām / puraṃdara-mukhyaiḥ)

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• sa-aṅganā-ādyaiḥ: together with their consorts and others
• sa-aṅganā-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (aṅganā-ādayaḥ saha)

• vilokite: seen/observed
• vilokite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√lok (धातु) → vilokita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• vaṭa-vṛkṣam: the banyan tree
• vaṭa-vṛkṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (vaṭasya vṛkṣaḥ)

• mahā-ucchrāyam: very tall
• mahā-ucchrāyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vaṭavṛkṣam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ucchrāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—mahān ucchrāyaḥ yasya (very lofty)

• padma-rāga-phala-ujjvalam: bright with ruby-like fruits
• padma-rāga-phala-ujjvalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vaṭavṛkṣam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma-rāga (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ruby’) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (padmarāga-sadṛśaṃ phalaṃ; tena ujjvalaḥ)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers, traditional dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Purandara)
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse uses a vivid sacred-image (a towering vaṭa/banyan with jewel-like fruits) to signal an extraordinary, divinely witnessed locus—an auspicious setting where higher beings recognize spiritual potency and order.

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

Indirectly: by portraying the Devas themselves as reverent observers of a sacred manifestation, it reinforces the bhakti principle that holy places and symbols deserve attentive darśana and contemplation, even for celestial beings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No direct Vedanga instruction is stated in this shloka; it functions as descriptive narrative. In the broader Book 1.3 milieu, such descriptions often frame technical discussions by marking auspicious contexts and recognized sacred signs.