Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

मध्यप्राग्दक्षिणोदीच्यपश्चिमेषु विधानतः । यजेत्पूर्वादिपत्रेषु वृषभाद्याननुक्रमात् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

madhyaprāgdakṣiṇodīcyapaścimeṣu vidhānataḥ | yajetpūrvādipatreṣu vṛṣabhādyānanukramāt || 41 ||

Translation

定められた作法に従い、中央・東・南・北・西の区分において供養を行うべきである。さらに東の花弁を初めとして、花弁の上ではヴリシャバ（Vṛṣabha・牡牛）より順次、諸星宮を礼拝すべきである。

Word by Word

• madhya-prāk-dakṣiṇa-udīcya-paścimeṣu: in the middle, east, south, north, and west (positions)
• madhya-prāk-dakṣiṇa-udīcya-paścimeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + prāk (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द) + dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + udīcya (प्रातिपदिक) + paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); itaretara-dvandva of directions/positions ‘in the middle, east, south, north, and west (places)’

• vidhānataḥ: according to the prescribed rule
• vidhānataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग): ‘according to rule/ordinance’; indeclinable sense ‘by prescription’

• yajet: should worship/offer
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• pūrva-ādi-patreṣu: on the petals beginning with the eastern (one)
• pūrva-ādi-patreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘pūrva-ādi’ (beginning with east) qualifying ‘patreṣu’ (on the petals/leaves)

• vṛṣabha-ādyān: (deities/forms) beginning with Vṛṣabha
• vṛṣabha-ādyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘vṛṣabha-ādi’ = ‘beginning with Vṛṣabha’ (names to be worshipped)

• anu-kramāt: in sequence
• anu-kramāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (उपसर्ग) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative singular (पञ्चमी एकवचन) used adverbially: ‘in due order/sequence’; from noun ‘anukrama’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vṛṣabha (Taurus)

FAQs

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

It sanctifies the ritual space by aligning worship with both directions (dik) and cosmic order (rāśi-krama), expressing harmony between the microcosm of the altar/mandala and the macrocosm.

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

Bhakti here is enacted as disciplined upāsanā—devotion expressed through correct, orderly worship (vidhi), where attention and reverence are offered step-by-step rather than casually.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and ritual-vidhi: using directional placement and a sequential zodiacal mapping (starting from Vṛṣabha) upon the petals of a worship diagram.