Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

उत्तरादि यजेत्पश्चाद्रुद्रं चंडेश्वरं पुनः । ततो नंदिमहाकालौ गणेशं वृषभं पुनः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

uttarādi yajetpaścādrudraṃ caṃḍeśvaraṃ punaḥ | tato naṃdimahākālau gaṇeśaṃ vṛṣabhaṃ punaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

Après avoir adoré les divinités en commençant par la direction du nord et en poursuivant, qu’on adore ensuite Rudra puis, de nouveau, Caṇḍeśvara. Puis (qu’on vénère) Nandin et Mahākāla, ensuite Gaṇeśa, et encore le Taureau, Vṛṣabha (Nandin).

Word by Word

• उत्तर-आदि: starting from the north (etc.)
• उत्तर-आदि: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: beginning with the north)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• चण्डेश्वरम्: Caṇḍeśvara
• चण्डेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: then/from that)

• नन्दि-महाकालौ: Nandi and Mahākāla
• नन्दि-महाकालौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (Nandi and Mahākāla)

• गणेशम्: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृषभम्: the bull (Vṛṣabha)
• वृषभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Caṇḍeśvara
• Nandin
• Mahākāla
• Gaṇeśa
• Vṛṣabha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes niyama (ritual order): worship is performed in a prescribed directional and deity sequence, honoring the principal deity (Rudra) along with his attendants and protective forms, ensuring completeness and auspiciousness of the rite.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence—devotion not only to the main form of the deity but also to associated divine beings (Gaṇeśa, Nandin, Mahākāla, Caṇḍeśvara), reflecting an integrated, respectful approach to worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style procedural knowledge (ritual method): the ordered performance of offerings by direction (dig-krama) and the prescribed sequence of deities, a technical aspect of pūjā-vidhi aligned with Vedāṅga Kalpa.