Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कल्पशाखांतरे घंटां दधानं द्वादशेक्षणम् । बालार्काभं शिशुं कांतंषण्मुखं पूजयेत्ततः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

kalpaśākhāṃtare ghaṃṭāṃ dadhānaṃ dvādaśekṣaṇam | bālārkābhaṃ śiśuṃ kāṃtaṃṣaṇmukhaṃ pūjayettataḥ || 44 ||

Translation

Puis, dans la branche intermédiaire de l’agencement rituel (kalpa), qu’on adore la divinité charmante, semblable à un enfant, rayonnante comme le soleil levant, portant une cloche, dotée de douze yeux et de six visages.

Word by Word

• kalpa-śākhā-antare: in the space between the kalpa-branches
• kalpa-śākhā-antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śākhā (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘kalpasya śākhāyāḥ antare’ = ‘in the interval/within the branch-section of the kalpa (diagram/tree)’

• ghaṇṭām: a bell
• ghaṇṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadhānam: bearing/holding
• dadhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); ‘bearing/holding’ (agreeing with implied deity/śiśu)

• dvādaśa-īkṣaṇam: twelve-eyed
• dvādaśa-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘twelve-eyed’

• bāla-arka-ābham: having the glow of the young sun
• bāla-arka-ābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘bāla-arkasya ābhā’ = ‘having the luster of the rising/young sun’

• śiśum: the child (deity-form)
• śiśum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāntam: beautiful/charming
• kāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṣaṇ-mukham: six-faced
• ṣaṇ-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘six-faced’

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tataḥ: thereafter/then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a ritual sequence in the Kalpa-oriented context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ṣaṇmukha (six-faced deity)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused act of upāsanā: worship of a specific divine form defined by precise lakṣaṇas (attributes), training the mind to hold a clear dhyāna (contemplative image) within a structured kalpa (ritual) sequence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as concrete sevā (reverent worship): the devotee approaches the deity as a radiant, charming child-form and offers pūjā with attentive visualization, turning devotion into disciplined, repeatable practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (a Vedāṅga) is foregrounded—this verse functions like a procedural instruction within ritual science, specifying the order (“then/thereafter”) and the exact meditative-iconographic features required for correct worship.