Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पञ्चवक्त्रं दशभुजं चन्द्रा र्द्धकृतशेखरम् । त्रिलोचनमुदाराङ्गं नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम् ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

pañcavaktraṃ daśabhujaṃ candrā rddhakṛtaśekharam | trilocanamudārāṅgaṃ nāgayajñopavītinam || 98 ||

Translation

Baginda berwajah lima dan berlengan sepuluh; bulan sabit menjadi sebahagian daripada mahkota-Nya; bermata tiga, bertubuh mulia, serta memakai yajñopavīta—benang suci—yang terbuat daripada ular.

Word by Word

• pañca-vaktram: five-faced
• pañca-vaktram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘पञ्च वक्राणि यस्य’ (five-faced)

• daśa-bhujam: ten-armed
• daśa-bhujam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘दश भुजाः यस्य’ (ten-armed)

• candra-ardha-kṛta-śekharam: with the half-moon as his crest
• candra-ardha-kṛta-śekharam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त) + śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘चन्द्रस्य अर्धं कृतः शेखरः यस्य’ (having the half-moon as crest)

• tri-locanam: three-eyed
• tri-locanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्य’ (three-eyed)

• udāra-aṅgam: majestic-bodied
• udāra-aṅgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘उदारम् अङ्गम्’ (noble/majestic-bodied)

• nāga-yajñopavītinam: wearing a serpent as the sacred thread
• nāga-yajñopavītinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + yajñopavītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) ‘यज्ञोपवीतिन्’ adjective used for Śiva; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नागः एव यज्ञोपवीतम् यस्य’ (having a serpent as sacred thread)

Speaker

Narada (descriptive narration within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra/Mahadeva)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Naga (Serpents)

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-style iconographic vision of Shiva—his multiple faces, arms, third eye, moon-crest, and serpent sacred thread—guiding the devotee toward focused contemplation and reverence for divine power and transcendence.

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

By giving concrete attributes for meditative remembrance (smaraṇa) and visualization (dhyāna), it supports bhakti through steady mental worship—fixing the mind on the deity’s form and symbols.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily ritual/meditative application rather than a Vedāṅga technical lesson: it functions like a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditation-description) used in pūjā and mantra-based worship to stabilize concentration.