Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अनेन विधिना साध्यः कृत्याद्रोहज्वंरादिभिः । विमुक्तः सुचिरं जीवेच्छरदां शतमञ्जसा ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

anena vidhinā sādhyaḥ kṛtyādrohajvaṃrādibhiḥ | vimuktaḥ suciraṃ jīveccharadāṃ śatamañjasā || 120 ||

Translation

Durch dieses vorgeschriebene Verfahren wird der Übende, der von kṛtyā (feindseligen Riten), böswilligen Angriffen, Fiebern und dergleichen heimgesucht ist, davon befreit und lebt lange, indem er mühelos die volle Zahl von hundert Herbsten erreicht.

Word by Word

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (instrumental singular of pronoun)

• विधिना: by the method/rite
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• साध्यः: is to be cured/achieved
• साध्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhya (कृदन्त; साध् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भविष्यत्कर्मणि/योग्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory: “to be cured/achieved”)

• कृत्या: witchcraft/black magic
• कृत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (as member in compound with -आदि)

• द्रोह: malice/treachery
• द्रोह: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: droha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (as member in compound with -आदि)

• ज्वर: fever
• ज्वर: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (as member in compound with -आदि)

• आदिभिः: by (ailments) beginning with… etc.
• आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; समास: कृत्या-द्रोह-ज्वर-आदि (तत्पुरुष; “beginning with…”) + भिस् (instrumental plural)

• विमुक्तः: freed
• विमुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-muc (कृदन्त; मुच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle: “freed/released”)

• सुचिरम्: for a very long time
• सुचिरम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su-cira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative/avyayībhāva-like usage); कर्मधारय: सु + चिर (“very long”)

• जीवेत्: may live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शरदाम्: of autumns/years
• शरदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Kāla-parimāṇa (काल-परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (here as measure: “a hundred”)

• अञ्जसा: easily/straightaway
• अञ्जसा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: añjas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); मूलतः तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपवत् प्रयोगः

Speaker

Narada (teaching a remedial/ritual procedure within Vedanga-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It affirms the efficacy of a properly performed vidhi (prescribed rite) to remove harmful influences—seen as both external hostility and subtle affliction—so that one may live long and steadily pursue dharma.

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

While not explicitly naming a deity here, the verse reflects the Purāṇic principle that disciplined, faith-filled observance of authorized procedures supports a stable life, which in turn sustains regular worship, mantra, and devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights vidhi-prayoga—correct application of ritual procedure and remedial rites—typical of the technical (Vedāṅga-oriented) material in Book 1.3, aimed at mitigating jvara and other disturbances.