Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

Devanagari script

मम चाभिमुखो भूत्वा गायस्वानेकगायनम् । अथाह कपिशार्दूलो भगवंतं महेश्वरम् ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

mama cābhimukho bhūtvā gāyasvānekagāyanam | athāha kapiśārdūlo bhagavaṃtaṃ maheśvaram || 123 ||

Translation

“Berpalinglah menghadapku dan nyanyikan pujian yang berbilang bait, dengan pelbagai ragam.” Setelah berkata demikian, sang ‘harimau’ di antara kera itu pun menyapa Bhagavān Maheśvara (Mahādeva).

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (gen. sg.)

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

• अभिमुखः: facing (towards)
• अभिमुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nom. sg.)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having become’

• गायस्व: sing!
• गायस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (2nd sg.)

• अनेकगायनम्: many songs / varied singing
• अनेकगायनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनेक-गायन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अनेकं गायनम्) (neut., acc. sg.)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sequence marker; ‘then’)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

• कपिशार्दूलः: the tiger among monkeys (Hanumān)
• कपिशार्दूलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि-शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कपिः इव शार्दूलः/कपीनां शार्दूलः) (masc., nom. sg.)

• भगवन्तम्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc., acc. sg.)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc., acc. sg.)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene; dialogue introduced by narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: vira (energized readiness)

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Kapiśārdūla (mighty monkey, traditionally Hanumān)

FAQs

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

It presents devotion expressed through disciplined vocal praise—turning one’s attention fully toward the object of worship and offering a structured hymn to Mahādeva.

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

Bhakti is shown as attentive presence (“facing me”) and active glorification (“sing a varied chant”), implying heartfelt praise supported by deliberate, focused practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The instruction to sing a composed, multi-part hymn aligns with Chandas (meter) and Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline), emphasizing correct, intentional chanting rather than casual speech.