Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

देवं संपूजयेत्पीठे वामादिनवशक्तिके । वामा ज्येष्ठा तथा रौद्री काली कलपदादिका ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

devaṃ saṃpūjayetpīṭhe vāmādinavaśaktike | vāmā jyeṣṭhā tathā raudrī kālī kalapadādikā || 18 ||

Translation

വാമാ മുതലായ ഒൻപത് ശക്തികളാൽ യുക്തമായ പീഠത്തിൽ ദേവനെ സമ്യകമായി പൂജിക്കണം—വാമാ, ജ്യേഷ്ഠാ, രൗദ്രീ, കാളി, കലപദാ മുതലായവർ।

Word by Word

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संपूजयेत्: should worship fully
• संपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष? (injunction), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः सम्

• पीठे: on the pedestal/seat
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वामादिनवशक्तिके: in/at (the seat) with nine śaktis beginning with Vāmā
• वामादिनवशक्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामा + आदि + नव + शक्ति + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः वामा-आदि-नव-शक्तयः यस्मिन् (having nine śaktis beginning with Vāmā); ‘-क’ प्रत्ययान्त (possessing/connected)

• वामा: Vāmā
• वामा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शक्तिनाम

• ज्येष्ठा: Jyeṣṭhā
• ज्येष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शक्तिनाम

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/क्रम (also/likewise)

• रौद्री: Raudrī
• रौद्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शक्तिनाम

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शक्तिनाम

• कलपदादिका: Kalapadā and others
• कलपदादिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलपदा + आदि + का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कलपदा-आदि (beginning with Kalapadā); ‘आदिका’ = ‘and others’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context of technical/ritual instruction, traditionally narrated within the Narada–Sanatkumara discourse frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vāmā
• Jyeṣṭhā
• Raudrī
• Kālī
• Kalapadā
• Deva (the worshipped deity)

FAQs

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

It teaches that proper worship is performed on a consecrated seat (pīṭha) understood as empowered by multiple Śaktis—divine powers that stabilize and complete the rite—so the Deity is honored in a fully integrated, potent form of worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as careful, reverent service: the devotee worships the Deity ‘completely’ (saṁpūjayet), recognizing the sacred supports (Śaktis) that make the offering disciplined, focused, and spiritually efficacious.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical knowledge: correct placement (pīṭha), correct invocation/recognition of named powers (Śaktis), and procedural completeness—elements aligned with kalpa-style ritual method and liturgical precision.