Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कश्यपो मुनिराख्यातश्छंदोऽनुष्टुबुदाहृतम् । अर्द्धनारीश्वरः प्रोक्तो देवता जगतां पतिः ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

kaśyapo munirākhyātaśchaṃdo'nuṣṭubudāhṛtam | arddhanārīśvaraḥ prokto devatā jagatāṃ patiḥ || 160 ||

Translation

Le ṛṣi est déclaré être le sage Kaśyapa ; le mètre (chandas) est dit Anuṣṭubh. La divinité (devatā) est Ardhanārīśvara, Seigneur des mondes.

Word by Word

• कश्यपः: Kashyapa
• कश्यपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• आख्यातः: is declared
• आख्यातः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आख्यात’ = ‘is declared/said’

• छन्दः: metre
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुष्टुप्: Anuṣṭubh (metre)
• अनुष्टुप्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्टुप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); छन्दो-नाम

• उदाहृतम्: is stated
• उदाहृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is stated/mentioned’

• अर्द्धनारीश्वरः: Ardhanārīśvara
• अर्द्धनारीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध + नारी + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘अर्द्धनार्याः ईश्वरः’

• प्रोक्तः: is said
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is said’

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पतिः: lord
• पतिः: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Ardhanarishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches the Vedāṅga method of mantra-classification—knowing the ṛṣi (seer), chandas (metre), and devatā (presiding deity)—so recitation is aligned with the mantra’s revealed source and intended divine focus.

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

By naming Ardhanārīśvara as the devatā, it directs devotional attention to the Lord as the integrated unity of Śiva and Śakti, encouraging worship with correct Vedic framing (ṛṣi–chandas–devatā) rather than vague sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Chandas: it specifies the Anuṣṭubh metre and records the standard triad (ṛṣi, chandas, devatā) used in ritual application (viniyoga) and accurate chanting.