Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पश्चाच्छीकंठनामानं शिखंडिनमिति क्रमात् । रक्तपीतसितारक्तकृष्णरक्तांजनासितान् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

paścācchīkaṃṭhanāmānaṃ śikhaṃḍinamiti kramāt | raktapītasitāraktakṛṣṇaraktāṃjanāsitān || 27 ||

Translation

Ensuite, selon l’ordre, on les dit « portant le nom de Śīkaṇṭha » et « Śikhaṇḍin ». Et l’on les distingue encore par les couleurs : rouge, jaune, blanc, rouge, noir, rouge, sombre comme le khôl, et noir.

Word by Word

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• श्रीकण्ठ-नामानम्: having the name Śrīkaṇṭha
• श्रीकण्ठ-नामानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; श्रीकण्ठ इति नाम यस्य (named ‘Śrīkaṇṭha’)

• शिखण्डिनम्: Śikhaṇḍin
• शिखण्डिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial: in order)

• रक्त-पीत-सित-रक्त-कृष्ण-रक्त-अञ्जन-असितान्: (those) red, yellow, white, red, black, red, collyrium-dark, and black
• रक्त-पीत-सित-रक्त-कृष्ण-रक्त-अञ्जन-असितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + सित (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वर्ण-समाहारः (a series of color-epithets)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, teaching Vedāṅga-Śikṣā classifications)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) as a sacred discipline: correct sound-classification and articulation preserve the integrity of mantra, which is essential for ritual efficacy and spiritual merit.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti indirectly: accurate pronunciation and disciplined recitation make praise, japa, and Vedic chanting offered to the Lord more focused and traditionally valid.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā: a systematic, ordered classification of sounds/letters using technical epithets and descriptive groupings (including color-like descriptors) to guide precise recitation and teaching of phonetics.