Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

चंद्रार्कहुतभुङ्नेत्रं स्मितास्यं युग्मपद्मगम् । मुद्रापाशैणाक्षसूत्रलसत्पाणिं शशिप्रभम् ॥ १११ ॥

Transliteration

caṃdrārkahutabhuṅnetraṃ smitāsyaṃ yugmapadmagam | mudrāpāśaiṇākṣasūtralasatpāṇiṃ śaśiprabham || 111 ||

Translation

其双目为月、日与祭火；面含微笑，安坐于双莲之上。其手光耀，执印（mudrā）、绳索、鹿与念珠；通体放出如月之辉。

Word by Word

• caṃdra-arka-hutabhuṅ-netram: having eyes (like) the moon, sun, and fire
• caṃdra-arka-hutabhuṅ-netram: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṃdra (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + hutabhuj (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘whose eyes are (like) moon, sun, and fire’ (describing the deity)

• smita-āsyam: with a smiling face
• smita-āsyam: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; ‘whose face is smiling’

• yugma-padma-gam: standing on twin lotuses
• yugma-padma-gam: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yugma (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; ‘going/standing on a pair of lotuses’

• mudrā-pāśa-eṇa-akṣa-sūtra-lasat-pāṇim: whose shining hands (hold) mudrā, noose, deer, and rosary
• mudrā-pāśa-eṇa-akṣa-sūtra-lasat-pāṇim: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudrā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + eṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + lasat (कृदन्त; las-śatṛ) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘whose hands are shining (holding) mudrā, noose, deer, rosary-string’

• śaśi-prabham: moon-radiant
• śaśi-prabham: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā/prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; ‘moon-like in radiance’

Speaker

Narada (within a technical-ritual exposition, likely quoting/teaching a dhyāna for worship)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna description: by visualizing the deity’s cosmic eyes (Moon, Sun, Fire) and auspicious attributes (mudrā, noose, deer, rosary), the practitioner steadies the mind and turns ritual action into inward contemplation.

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

Bhakti is supported through focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and visualization (dhyāna). The smiling face and moonlike radiance evoke intimacy and grace, while the rosary indicates sustained japa—devotion made continuous through practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge: murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) and upāsanā procedure (dhyāna before mantra/japa), which are commonly taught alongside ancillary disciplines used in correct worship performance.