Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 171

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

व्याघ्रचर्मपदस्यांते परिधानाय तत्परम् । शशांककृतशब्दांते शेखराय ततः परम् ॥ १७१ ॥

Transliteration

vyāghracarmapadasyāṃte paridhānāya tatparam | śaśāṃkakṛtaśabdāṃte śekharāya tataḥ param || 171 ||

Translation

Après le mot « vyāghracarma » (peau de tigre), il faut comprendre que le terme suivant désigne « vêtement/ce qui se porte ». De même, après « śaśāṅkakṛta » (fait par la lune), le terme qui suit désigne « śekhara », c’est-à-dire diadème, joyau de faîte.

Word by Word

• व्याघ्र-चर्म-पदस्य-अन्ते: at the end of the ‘tiger-skin’ word/segment
• व्याघ्र-चर्म-पदस्य-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘अन्ते’ इति सप्तमी-आधारित अव्ययार्थः (at the end)

• परिधानाय: for (the epithet) ‘wearing/garment’
• परिधानाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (परिधानम्); चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• तत्: then
• तत्: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial); ‘तत्’ = ‘then/thereupon’ (elliptic)

• परम्: next
• परम्: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative); ‘next/further’

• शशाङ्क-कृत-शब्द-अन्ते: at the end of the ‘moon-made’ word/segment
• शशाङ्क-कृत-शब्द-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शशाङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘अन्ते’ इति सप्तमी-आधारित अव्ययार्थः; कृत = क्त-कृदन्त (made)

• शेखराय: to (the epithet) ‘crest/jewel on the head’
• शेखराय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• परम्: next
• परम्: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग; ‘next’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/technical-usage context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined interpretation of sacred language: ritual and scriptural meaning is preserved by precise semantic conventions, preventing confusion in mantra, vrata, and vidhi applications.

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

Bhakti in the Purana is supported by correct practice (vidhi). This verse safeguards devotional and ritual acts by clarifying how terms should be understood, so worship is performed with accuracy and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga-level semantic analysis (nirukta) and grammatical usage (vyakarana): the verse illustrates how meaning is assigned based on word-position—what a following term denotes after specific preceding words.