Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

ततो विघ्नपदद्वन्द्वं महाभैरव तत्परम् । क्षेत्रपालबलिं गृह्णद्वयं पावकसुन्दरी ॥ १९७ ॥

Transliteration

tato vighnapadadvandvaṃ mahābhairava tatparam | kṣetrapālabaliṃ gṛhṇadvayaṃ pāvakasundarī || 197 ||

Translation

Puis, ô Mahābhairava—tout entier voué à écarter les obstacles—reçois l’offrande bali destinée à Kṣetrapāla (gardien de l’enceinte sacrée), ô Pāvakasundarī.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रम/कारणवाचक (then/thereupon)

• विघ्न-पद-द्वन्द्वम्: the pair of ‘vighna’ words/steps
• विघ्न-पद-द्वन्द्वम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न + पद + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—‘विघ्नस्य पदम्’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + ‘पदद्वन्द्वम्’ (द्वन्द्व-शब्दः ‘pair’)

• महाभैरव: O Mahābhairava
• महाभैरव: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधनम्/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘महान् भैरवः’ (कर्मधारय)

• तत्-परम्: intent on that
• तत्-परम्: विशेषण (विशेषणम्/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘तस्मिन् परम्/तत्परम्’ (devoted/intent on that)

• क्षेत्रपाल-बलिम्: the bali for the Kṣetrapāla
• क्षेत्रपाल-बलिम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रपाल + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘क्षेत्रपालस्य बलिः’

• गृह्णत्-द्वयम्: the pair that takes/receives
• गृह्णत्-द्वयम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह्णत् (प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमान-कृदन्त from √ग्रह्) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः ‘गृह्णत् (गृह्णन्) द्वयम्’

• पावक-सुन्दरी: Pāvakasundarī (a named figure)
• पावक-सुन्दरी: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः ‘पावकवत् सुन्दरी’/‘पावकस्य सुन्दरी’ (name/epithet)

Speaker

Narada (in a ritual-instruction context, narrating to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahabhairava
• Ksetrapala
• Pavakasundari

FAQs

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

It frames obstacle-removal and ritual safeguarding as essential preliminaries: honoring Mahābhairava and offering bali to the Kṣetrapāla protects the sacred space so the main rite proceeds without hindrance.

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

Bhakti here appears as disciplined reverence—approaching the divine and the guardian powers with humility (at the feet), asking them to accept offerings so the devotee’s worship can be performed steadily and without disruption.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and correct liturgical address—how specific deities (Kṣetrapāla, Bhairava) are invoked and how bali is offered as part of technical karmakāṇḍa practice supported by Vedāṅga-informed ritual discipline.