Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

षड्भिर्वर्णैः षडंगानि हुंफडंतैः सजातिभिः । मध्याह्नार्कप्रभं भीमं त्र्यक्षं पन्नगभूषणम् ॥ १८६ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍbhirvarṇaiḥ ṣaḍaṃgāni huṃphaḍaṃtaiḥ sajātibhiḥ | madhyāhnārkaprabhaṃ bhīmaṃ tryakṣaṃ pannagabhūṣaṇam || 186 ||

Translation

وبالمقاطع الستة يُوضَع (نياسا) للأعضاء الستة—مع أصوات البذرة التي تبدأ بـ«هُمْ» و«فَتْ» وما يتبعها من المقاطع المرافقة—ثم يُتأمَّل في الجليل المُرعِب، المتلألئ كشمس الظهيرة، ذي العيون الثلاث، المتزيّن بالأفاعي.

Word by Word

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• वर्णैः: by/with syllables (letters)
• वर्णैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• षडङ्गानि: the six limbs (six parts)
• षडङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः

• हुंफडंतैः: with (forms) ending in ‘huṃ phaḍ’
• हुंफडंतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हुंफडन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; मन्त्रबीज-विशेषण (ending with ‘huṃ phaḍ’)

• सजातिभिः: with those of the same kind
• सजातिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण — समानजातीय (of the same class)

• मध्याह्न-अर्क-प्रभम्: radiant like the midday sun
• मध्याह्न-अर्क-प्रभम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्याह्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — मध्याह्नार्कस्य प्रभा यस्य (having the radiance of the midday sun)

• भीमम्: terrible
• भीमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• त्र्यक्षम्: three-eyed
• त्र्यक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः — त्रयः अक्षीणि यस्य

• पन्नग-भूषणम्: having serpents as ornaments
• पन्नग-भूषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — पन्नगैः भूषणं यस्य (adorned with serpents)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Narada
• Rudra (three-eyed form)

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined ritual method—ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa joined with potent bīja-sounds—so the practitioner internalizes divine power and steadies the mind through a precise visualization of a fierce, protective deity-form.

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

Bhakti here appears as reverent, focused upāsanā: devotion expressed through mantra, bodily sanctification (nyāsa), and contemplative meditation on the deity’s form, cultivating surrender and protection through remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-prayoga—especially ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (ritual placement on the body) and the use of bīja mantras like huṃ and phaṭ, a common feature of applied ritual science within Purāṇic and Āgamic practice.