Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

सितपीतासितश्वेतजपाभैः पंचभिर्मुखैः । अक्षैर्युतं ग्लौमुकुटं कोटिपूर्णेंदुसंप्रभम् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

sitapītāsitaśvetajapābhaiḥ paṃcabhirmukhaiḥ | akṣairyutaṃ glaumukuṭaṃ koṭipūrṇeṃdusaṃprabham || 88 ||

Translation

അവന് അഞ്ചു മുഖങ്ങൾ—ശ്വേതം, പീതം, നീല-ശ്യാമം, ദീപ്തശ്വേതം, ജപാപുഷ്പസദൃശമായ അരുണാഭ. അദ്ദേഹം അക്ഷമാല ധരിക്കുകയും ‘ഗ്ലൗ’ മുകുടം അണിയുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു; അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രഭ കോടി പൂർണ്ണചന്ദ്രന്മാരെപ്പോലെ॥

Word by Word

• सित-पीत-असित-श्वेत-जपाभैः: with hues of white, yellow, dark, pale-white, and hibiscus
• सित-पीत-असित-श्वेत-जपाभैः: Karana (करण/Instrument or specification)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + असित (प्रातिपदिक) + श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + जपा (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमास (list of colors + ‘japā’-hue), पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.) instrumental plural by form, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, तृतीया (Instr.3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• मुखैः: faces
• मुखैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr.3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अक्षैः: eyes
• अक्षैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr.3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• युतम्: endowed (with)
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म/Describing object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• ग्लौ-मुकुटम्: a radiant crown
• ग्लौ-मुकुटम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement in description)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्लौ (प्रातिपदिक) + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (‘a shining/bright crown’—glaumukuṭa), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• कोटि-पूर्ण-इन्दु-सम्प्रभम्: having the radiance of crores of full moons
• कोटि-पूर्ण-इन्दु-सम्प्रभम्: Karma (कर्म/Qualifier of described form)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative: ‘having the splendor of crores of full moons’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Narada (describing the deity/iconographic form in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative specification): by fixing the mind on the deity’s five-faced, multi-hued radiance, rosary, and moon-like crown, the practitioner stabilizes attention and makes worship (upāsanā) precise and effective.

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

It supports bhakti through concrete visualization—devotion is strengthened when the devotee contemplates the Lord’s form (rūpa-smaraṇa) with clear attributes, turning inner remembrance into continuous loving attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical ritual-technical element is emphasized: standardized iconographic/meditative markers used in mantra and pūjā—such details guide correct dhyāna and help maintain disciplined recitation (japa) symbolized by the akṣa-mālā.