Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 162

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

रक्तोत्पलं च हस्ताब्जैर्दधतं चारुभूषणम् । बालेंदुबद्धमुकुटमर्द्धनारीश्वरं स्मरेत् ॥ १६२ ॥

Transliteration

raktotpalaṃ ca hastābjairdadhataṃ cārubhūṣaṇam | bāleṃdubaddhamukuṭamarddhanārīśvaraṃ smaret || 162 ||

Translation

Qu’on se souvienne d’Ardhanārīśvara : paré de beaux ornements, tenant un lotus rouge de ses mains semblables au lotus, et portant une couronne fixée par le croissant de lune.

Word by Word

• रक्तोत्पलम्: a red lotus
• रक्तोत्पलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘रक्तम् उत्पलम्’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हस्ताब्जैः: with lotus-like hands
• हस्ताब्जैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘हस्त-रूपैः अब्जैः’ (lotus-like hands)

• दधतम्: holding
• दधतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि (Present active participle/शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘bearing/holding’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आरुभूषणम्: with beautiful ornaments
• आरुभूषणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरु + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘आरु (सुन्दर) भूषणम्’

• बाल-इन्दु-बद्ध-मुकुटम्: having a crown fastened with a young crescent moon
• बाल-इन्दु-बद्ध-मुकुटम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल + इन्दु + बद्ध + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘बाल-इन्दुना बद्धं मुकुटं यस्य’ (crown bound with a young crescent moon)

• अर्द्धनारीश्वरम्: Ardhanārīśvara
• अर्द्धनारीश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध + नारी + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• स्मरेत्: should meditate/remember
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on dhyana/upasana method)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ardhanarishvara
• Shiva
• Shakti (Devi)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise dhyāna (meditative visualization) of Ardhanārīśvara, emphasizing the non-dual unity of Śiva and Śakti as a direct support for concentrated worship and inner integration.

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

By giving a concrete form for remembrance—ornaments, lotus, and crescent-crown—it turns devotion into steady smaraṇa (recollection), allowing the mind to rest on the deity’s qualities and form as an act of bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technology: dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) used in worship procedures—an operational aspect often aligned with kalpa-style practice (ritual method) within the Purana’s technical instruction stream.