Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

श्यामं रक्तोत्पलकरं वामांकन्यस्ततत्करम् । द्विनेत्रं रक्तवस्त्राढ्यं सेनापतिमथार्चयेत् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

śyāmaṃ raktotpalakaraṃ vāmāṃkanyastatatkaram | dvinetraṃ raktavastrāḍhyaṃ senāpatimathārcayet || 47 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം സേനാപതിയെ ആരാധിക്കണം—ശ്യാമവർണ്ണനായും, കൈയിൽ ചുവന്ന താമര ധരിച്ചും, ഇടങ്കൈ ഇടത്തുടയിൽ വെച്ചും, ദ്വിനേത്രനും, ചുവന്ന വസ്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ സമൃദ്ധനുമായ രൂപത്തിൽ ധ്യാനിച്ച് അർച്ചിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• श्यामम्: dark (in complexion)
• श्यामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रक्तोत्पलकरम्: having a red-lotus in hand
• रक्तोत्पलकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-उत्पल-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘रक्तोत्पलं करः यस्य/यः’ (हस्ते रक्तोत्पलधारी)

• वामाङ्कन्यस्ततत्करम्: whose hand is placed on the left side/lap
• वामाङ्कन्यस्ततत्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम-अङ्क-न्यस्त-तत्-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘वामाङ्के न्यस्तः तत्करः यस्य’ (तत्=तस्य/तद्)

• द्विनेत्रम्: two-eyed
• द्विनेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि-नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘द्वे नेत्रे यस्य’

• रक्तवस्त्राढ्यम्: richly clad in red garments
• रक्तवस्त्राढ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-वस्त्र-आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘रक्तवस्त्रैः आढ्यः/समृद्धः’

• सेनापतिम्: the commander (Skanda)
• सेनापतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सेनायाः पतिः’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/next)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a ritual/vidhi sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Senāpati

FAQs

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

It teaches dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) as part of worship: fixing the deity’s form—color, attributes, posture, and garments—so the mind becomes steady and the ritual becomes inwardly concentrated.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through upāsanā: the devotee lovingly contemplates specific divine features (lotus, red garments, composed posture) and then performs arcana, making devotion concrete through disciplined visualization and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-oriented ritual method: a procedural instruction for arcana supported by dhyāna (visual specification), which is a practical component of performing rites correctly and consistently.