Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

सहस्रमासपर्यंतं लभेदायुर्धनं सुतान् । सुधावटतितान्पूर्वा पयः सर्पिः पयो हविः ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

sahasramāsaparyaṃtaṃ labhedāyurdhanaṃ sutān | sudhāvaṭatitānpūrvā payaḥ sarpiḥ payo haviḥ || 117 ||

Translation

Für die Dauer von tausend Monaten erlangt man Lebensfülle, Reichtum und Söhne. In der früheren Überlieferung werden Gaben wie Milch, Ghee, wiederum Milch und Havis (Opferspeise) genannt; und auch der sudhā-vaṭa, gleichsam wie Nektar, wird erwähnt.

Word by Word

• सहस्र-मास-पर्यन्तम्: up to a thousand months
• सहस्र-मास-पर्यन्तम्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (कालपरिमाणे); द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (accusative used adverbially)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आयुः: long life
• आयुः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• सुधा-वट-तितान्: (sons) established like/under the nectar-banyan (i.e., very prosperous)
• सुधा-वट-तितान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + वट (प्रातिपदिक) + तित (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला (सुधायाः वटः; तित = 'स्थित/आश्रित' इत्यर्थे विशेषण)

• पूर्वा: first/previously
• पूर्वा: सम्बन्ध (contextual)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (sequencing particle)

• पयः: milk
• पयः: कर्म/निर्देश (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: कर्म/निर्देश (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• पयः: milk
• पयः: कर्म/निर्देश (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• हविः: oblation
• हविः: कर्म/निर्देश (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; didactic narration within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames ritual action (havis and related offerings) in terms of measurable phala—longevity, prosperity, and progeny—showing how Vedic rites are presented as dharmic means to sustain worldly order while remaining within scriptural discipline.

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

This verse is primarily karma/ritual-phala oriented rather than explicitly bhakti-centered; however, it supports a bhakti-compatible framework by emphasizing sanctioned offerings (havis) as disciplined worship that can be offered with devotional intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and offering-substances (milk, ghee, havis), aligning with Kalpa (ritual practice) and the broader Vedanga emphasis on correct performance and expected results (phala).