Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 118

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

सप्त द्रव्याणि वारेषु क्रमाद्दशशतं हुनेत् । सप्ताधिकान् द्विजान्नित्यं भोजयेन्मधुरान्वितम् ॥ ११८ ॥

Transliteration

sapta dravyāṇi vāreṣu kramāddaśaśataṃ hunet | saptādhikān dvijānnityaṃ bhojayenmadhurānvitam || 118 ||

Translation

An den aufeinanderfolgenden Wochentagen soll man, der Ordnung gemäß, mit den sieben vorgeschriebenen Substanzen tausendfach Feueropfer darbringen; und täglich Brahmanen (Dvija), sieben oder mehr, mit Speise samt Süßem bewirten.

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; द्रव्याणि इत्यस्य विशेषण

• द्रव्याणि: substances/materials
• द्रव्याणि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• वारेषु: on (specified) days
• वारेषु: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in order, sequentially
• क्रमात्: रीति/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्; पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (ablative used adverbially)

• दश-शतम्: a thousand (ten hundreds)
• दश-शतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + शत (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (दश च शतं = 1000)

• हुनेत्: should offer (in fire)
• हुनेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सप्त-अधिकान्: more than seven
• सप्त-अधिकान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सप्तभ्यः अधिकाः = more than seven)

• द्विजान्: brahmins
• द्विजान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• नित्यम्: daily/always
• नित्यम्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु, causative/णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• मधुर-अन्वितम्: accompanied by sweets/sweet (food)
• मधुर-अन्वितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त, √इ/अन्वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मधुरेण अन्वितम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 discipline as sustained daily practice: repeated homa (purificatory oblations) joined with charity through feeding qualified recipients, integrating inner purification with outward dharmic giving.

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

While primarily ritualistic, it supports bhakti by prescribing consistent worship through homa and service to dvijas—acts traditionally performed as offerings to the Divine and as support of sacred learning.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—proper sequencing by weekdays (kramāt vāreṣu) and quantified oblation counts—elements aligned with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and time-based observance used in Vedic practice.