Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

नागाभूषं जपवटीं शूलं ब्रह्यकपालकम् । खट्वांगं दधतं दोर्भिस्त्रिनेत्रं चिंतयेद्धरम् ॥ १५६ ॥

Transliteration

nāgābhūṣaṃ japavaṭīṃ śūlaṃ brahyakapālakam | khaṭvāṃgaṃ dadhataṃ dorbhistrinetraṃ ciṃtayeddharam || 156 ||

Translation

Qu’on médite sur Hara (Śiva) : paré de serpents, portant un chapelet de japa, tenant le trident et le crâne de Brahmā, et serrant le khaṭvāṅga dans ses bras; aux trois yeux, d’une majesté saisissante.

Word by Word

• नाग-आभूषम्: having a serpent as ornament
• नाग-आभूषम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘धरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + आभूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; ‘नागः आभूषणं यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• जप-वटीम्: a rosary (japa-garland)
• जप-वटीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; held/possessed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + वटी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; ‘जपस्य वटी’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शूलम्: a trident/spear
• शूलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; held)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्य-कपालकम्: Brahmā’s skull-bowl
• ब्रह्य-कपालकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; held)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्य/ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; ‘ब्रह्मणः कपालकम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• खट्वाङ्गम्: a club (khaṭvāṅga)
• खट्वाङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; held)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दधतम्: bearing, holding
• दधतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘धरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• दोर्भिः: with (his) arms
• दोर्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine; ‘arm’), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्रि-नेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-नेत्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘धरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu; ‘त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• चिन्तयेत्: should meditate upon
• चिन्तयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• धरम्: the Bearer (Śiva)
• धरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework; instructional tone on dhyāna/ritual visualization)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Hara
• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It gives a precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) of Hara, using recognizable emblems—serpents, trident, skull, khaṭvāṅga, and the third eye—to steady the mind and make contemplation (cintana) focused and effective.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as attentive remembrance and visualization: the devotee repeatedly contemplates the Lord’s form and attributes while engaging in japa, turning devotion into a disciplined, single-pointed mental worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical procedure: dhyāna as a preparatory limb for japa and worship (a practical method used alongside mantra practice), emphasizing correct form-contemplation to support effective recitation and rite-performance.