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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

अयुतद्वितयात्पश्चाद्भूतादिग्रहणे क्षमः । माया स्फुरद्वयं भूयः प्रस्फुरद्वितयं पुनः ॥ १७७ ॥

ayutadvitayātpaścādbhūtādigrahaṇe kṣamaḥ | māyā sphuradvayaṃ bhūyaḥ prasphuradvitayaṃ punaḥ || 177 ||

بعد «زوج العشرين ألفًا» (أيوتا-دْڤيتايا) يأتي ذلك المبدأ القادر على إدراك العناصر وما سواها. ثم تتجلّى المايا كزوجٍ من النبضات؛ ثم تعود فتتسع مرةً أخرى إلى زوجٍ آخر من النبضات.

अयुतद्वितयात्after two ayutas (i.e., after 20,000)
अयुतद्वितयात्:
Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
TypeNoun
Rootअयुत + द्वितय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अयुतयोः द्वितयम् = 20000)
पश्चात्afterwards
पश्चात्:
Kala (काल/Time adjunct)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपश्चात् (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
भूतादिग्रहणेin the taking/recitation of ‘bhūta’ etc.
भूतादिग्रहणे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootभूत + आदि + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूत-आदि-ग्रहणम्)
क्षमःcapable/competent
क्षमः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
माया‘māyā’ (mantric syllable/word)
माया:
Karma (कर्म/Object—mantra element)
TypeNoun
Rootमाया (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
स्फुरद्वयम्‘sphurat’ twice
स्फुरद्वयम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object—mantra element)
TypeNoun
Rootस्फुरत् (कृदन्त) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्फुरत्-द्वयम् = ‘sphurat’ twice)
भूयःagain; further
भूयः:
Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभूयः (अव्यय)
Formपुनरर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: again/more)
प्रस्फुरद्वयम्‘prasphurat’ twice
प्रस्फुरद्वयम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object—mantra element)
TypeNoun
Rootप्र + स्फुरत् (कृदन्त) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रस्फुरत्-द्वयम् = ‘prasphurat’ twice)
पुनःagain
पुनः:
Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formपुनरर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-cosmological sequence)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

M
Maya
B
Bhuta (elements)

FAQs

It frames creation as a graded unfolding: a higher principle gains the capacity to cognize the elements, and Māyā operates through rhythmic ‘pulsations,’ implying that manifested reality is a structured appearance rather than the absolute Self.

By highlighting Māyā’s role in producing the perceivable world, the verse supports Bhakti’s inner discipline: devotion steadies the mind beyond fluctuating appearances and turns it toward the unchanging Lord behind manifestation.

The verse reflects technical, enumerative thinking used in Vedanga-style study—systematizing principles of manifestation (useful for interpreting cosmological sections that inform ritual timing, sacred order, and doctrinal clarity).