Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

सिंदूराभं लसद्रत्नमुकुटं चन्द्रमौलिनम् । दिव्यभूषांगरागं च नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम् ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

siṃdūrābhaṃ lasadratnamukuṭaṃ candramaulinam | divyabhūṣāṃgarāgaṃ ca nāgayajñopavītinam || 103 ||

Translation

其身如朱砂般赤红，戴着镶嵌宝珠、光辉灿然的宝冠；以新月为顶饰；佩诸天妙饰并涂抹芬芳圣膏；又以蛇为圣线（yajñopavīta）而佩。

Word by Word

• सिन्दूर-आभम्: vermilion-hued
• सिन्दूर-आभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिन्दूर + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आभ’ = सदृश/प्रभा-युक्त

• लसत्-रत्न-मुकुटम्: a crown with shining jewels
• लसत्-रत्न-मुकुटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लसत् (√लस् धातु, शतृ) + रत्न + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लसत्’ = वर्तमानकाले दीप्तिमत्; समासः—दीप्त-रत्नयुक्तं मुकुटम्

• चन्द्र-मौलिनम्: one who has the moon on his head
• चन्द्र-मौलिनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + मौलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘चन्द्रः मौलौ यस्य सः’

• दिव्य-भूषा-अङ्ग-रागम्: with divine ornaments and body-unguent
• दिव्य-भूषा-अङ्ग-रागम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + भूषा + अङ्ग + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—दिव्याः भूषाः, दिव्यः अङ्गरागः (लेपः) यस्य/यत्र

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नाग-यज्ञोपवीतिनम्: wearing a serpent as the sacred thread
• नाग-यज्ञोपवीतिनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग + यज्ञोपवीतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘यज्ञोपवीतिन्’ = यज्ञोपवीतधारी; नाग-रूपं यज्ञोपवीतं यस्य

Speaker

Sanatkumara (narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chandra

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-style description of a deity’s auspicious marks—vermilion radiance, moon-crest, divine ornaments—guiding the mind toward concentrated remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverence in worship.

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

By supplying vivid attributes for contemplation, it supports devotional practice through form-based meditation (saguṇa-upāsanā), where the devotee steadies attention on sacred iconographic features during japa and pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects practical ritual vocabulary used in Purāṇic worship—especially the symbolism of yajñopavīta (sacred thread) and bodily anointing (aṅgarāga)—useful for correct pūjā procedure and dhyāna-vidhi.