Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

बंधूकाभं त्रिनेत्रं च शशिखंडधरं विभुम् । स्मेरास्यं स्वकरैः शूलं कंपालं वरदाभये ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

baṃdhūkābhaṃ trinetraṃ ca śaśikhaṃḍadharaṃ vibhum | smerāsyaṃ svakaraiḥ śūlaṃ kaṃpālaṃ varadābhaye || 37 ||

Translation

ഞാൻ ആ സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ പ്രഭുവിനെ ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നു—ബന്ധൂകപുഷ്പസമമായ അരുണവർണ്ണൻ, ത്രിനേത്രധാരി, ശിരസ്സിൽ ചന്ദ്രകല ധരിച്ചവൻ; സ്മിതമുഖൻ, സ്വന്തം കൈകളിൽ ശൂലം, കപാലപാത്രം, വരദവും അഭയവും എന്ന മുദ്രകളും ധരിച്ചവൻ.

Word by Word

• बन्धूकाभम्: having the hue of the bandhūka flower
• बन्धूकाभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्धूक-आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (उपमान: बन्धूकस्य आभा यस्य)

• त्रिनेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

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

• शशिखण्डधरम्: bearing the crescent moon
• शशिखण्डधरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि-खण्ड-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शशिनः खण्डं धरति)

• विभुम्: the all-pervading Lord
• विभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मेरास्यम्: with a smiling face
• स्मेरास्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मेर-आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (स्मेरम् आस्यम् यस्य)

• स्वकरैः: with (his) own hands
• स्वकरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वाः कराः)

• शूलम्: trident/spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कपालम्: skull-bowl
• कपालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरदाभये: the boon-giving and fear-dispelling (mudrās)
• वरदाभये: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरद-अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (वरदं च अभयं च)

Speaker

Narada (describing the meditative form for worship/recitation within the instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra/Mahadeva)

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna (visualization) verse: fixing the mind on the Lord’s auspicious attributes—three eyes (higher insight), crescent moon (transcendence over time), and the mudrās of boon and fearlessness—so worship and recitation become inwardly concentrated and effective.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through loving remembrance (smiling, approachable Lord) and steady contemplation of His form; such dhyāna supports devotion by turning the heart from scattered attention to single-pointed reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical practice used alongside recitation: dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) that prepares the practitioner for mantra/japa and worship—an applied discipline often taught within technical sections of the Purāṇa.