Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 193

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

नीलाचलाभं दिग्वस्त्रं सर्पभूषं त्रिलोचनम् । पिंगोर्ध्वकेशान्दधतं कपालं च गदां स्मरेत् ॥ १९३ ॥

Transliteration

nīlācalābhaṃ digvastraṃ sarpabhūṣaṃ trilocanam | piṃgordhvakeśāndadhataṃ kapālaṃ ca gadāṃ smaret || 193 ||

Translation

നീലാചലത്തെപ്പോലെ നീലകാന്തിയുള്ള, ദിഗ്വസ്ത്രൻ (ആകാശവസ്ത്രധാരി), സർപ്പാഭൂഷണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതൻ, ത്രിനേത്രൻ, പിംഗളമായി മേലോട്ടുയർന്ന കേശധാരി, കപാലവും ഗദയും ധരിച്ച ശംഭുവിനെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• नील-अचल-आभम्: having the appearance of a blue mountain
• नील-अचल-आभम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + अचल (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नीलस्य अचलस्य इव आभा यस्य/नीलाचलाभम्—‘blue-mountain-like in appearance’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिक्-वस्त्रम्: sky-clad (wearing the directions as garment)
• दिक्-वस्त्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिश्/दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (दिशः एव वस्त्रं यस्य—‘clad in the quarters’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्प-भूषम्: adorned with serpents
• सर्प-भूषम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण/भूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (सर्पाः भूषणं यस्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रि-लोचनम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-लोचनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पिङ्ग-ऊर्ध्व-केशान्: tawny, upraised hair
• पिङ्ग-ऊर्ध्व-केशान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पिङ्गाश्च ऊर्ध्वाश्च केशाः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘केशान्’ कर्म

• दधतम्: bearing/holding
• दधतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √धा (धातु; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘bearing/holding’

• कपालम्: a skull (bowl)
• कपालम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गदाम्: a mace
• गदाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• स्मरेत्: should remember/visualize
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-meditative context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It gives a precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) for concentrating the mind on Śiva’s form—using recognizable attributes (three eyes, serpents, skull) to stabilize contemplation and invoke inner transformation.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as remembrance (smaret): devoted recollection through a vivid form of the deity, turning attention away from distraction and toward single-pointed reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a ritual-technical method of dhyāna used alongside mantra and worship procedures—an applied discipline supporting correct practice and mental focus in sādhana.