Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कल्पशाखांतरे घंटां दधानं द्वादशेक्षणम् । बालार्काभं शिशुं कांतंषण्मुखं पूजयेत्ततः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

kalpaśākhāṃtare ghaṃṭāṃ dadhānaṃ dvādaśekṣaṇam | bālārkābhaṃ śiśuṃ kāṃtaṃṣaṇmukhaṃ pūjayettataḥ || 44 ||

Translation

Rồi, tại nhánh trung gian của sự sắp đặt nghi lễ (kalpa), hãy phụng thờ vị thần đáng yêu như trẻ thơ—rực sáng như mặt trời mới mọc—tay mang chuông, có mười hai mắt và sáu mặt.

Word by Word

• kalpa-śākhā-antare: in the space between the kalpa-branches
• kalpa-śākhā-antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śākhā (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘kalpasya śākhāyāḥ antare’ = ‘in the interval/within the branch-section of the kalpa (diagram/tree)’

• ghaṇṭām: a bell
• ghaṇṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadhānam: bearing/holding
• dadhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); ‘bearing/holding’ (agreeing with implied deity/śiśu)

• dvādaśa-īkṣaṇam: twelve-eyed
• dvādaśa-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘twelve-eyed’

• bāla-arka-ābham: having the glow of the young sun
• bāla-arka-ābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘bāla-arkasya ābhā’ = ‘having the luster of the rising/young sun’

• śiśum: the child (deity-form)
• śiśum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāntam: beautiful/charming
• kāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṣaṇ-mukham: six-faced
• ṣaṇ-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘six-faced’

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tataḥ: thereafter/then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a ritual sequence in the Kalpa-oriented context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ṣaṇmukha (six-faced deity)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused act of upāsanā: worship of a specific divine form defined by precise lakṣaṇas (attributes), training the mind to hold a clear dhyāna (contemplative image) within a structured kalpa (ritual) sequence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as concrete sevā (reverent worship): the devotee approaches the deity as a radiant, charming child-form and offers pūjā with attentive visualization, turning devotion into disciplined, repeatable practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (a Vedāṅga) is foregrounded—this verse functions like a procedural instruction within ritual science, specifying the order (“then/thereafter”) and the exact meditative-iconographic features required for correct worship.