Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

तेषां मध्ये महाकाशमाकाशे निर्मलामलम् । तन्मध्ये च महेशानं ध्यायेद्दीप्तिमयं शुभम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṃ madhye mahākāśamākāśe nirmalāmalam | tanmadhye ca maheśānaṃ dhyāyeddīptimayaṃ śubham || 36 ||

Translation

അവയുടെ മദ്ധ്യേ മഹാകാശത്തെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം—ആകാശത്തിലെ നിർമ്മലവും മലരഹിതവും ആയ തത്ത്വത്തെ. അതിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യേ ദീപ്തിമയനും ശുഭനും ആയ മഹേശാനനെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative), एकवचन

• महाकाशम्: the great ether
• महाकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महत् आकाशम् (great ether/space)

• आकाशे: in the ether
• आकाशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निर्मलामलम्: spotless, stainless
• निर्मलामलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल + अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार): निर्मलम् च अमलम् च (spotless and stainless), विशेषण (qualifier of महाकाशम्/आकाशम्)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (used as first member in compound: तन्मध्ये = तस्य मध्ये)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (in compound sense: in the middle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ध्यायेत्: one should meditate (on)
• ध्यायेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: ध्यै (to meditate)

• दीप्तिमयम्: full of radiance
• दीप्तिमयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्ति + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: दीप्त्या मयः / दीप्तेः मयः (full of radiance), विशेषण (of महेशानम्)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of महेशानम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshana
• Akasha

FAQs

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

It outlines an inward contemplative ladder: from the notion of vast, pure space (ākāśa) to the recognition of the luminous, auspicious Lord (Maheśāna) as the indwelling focus of meditation—supporting steadiness and purification of mind.

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

Even as a dhyāna-instruction, it is devotional in aim: the meditator lovingly fixes awareness on the Lord’s śubha (auspicious) and dīptimaya (radiant) form/presence, turning abstract vastness into personal God-centered contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical dhyāna method—progressive visualization and concentration (a yogic upāya) often taught alongside śāstraic disciplines in the Purāṇic Vedāṅga milieu, emphasizing mental purity (nirmala) and a precise meditation object.