Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 122

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

होमोऽयं शांतिदः प्रोक्तः सर्वाभयप्रदायकः । द्रव्यैरेतैः प्रजुहुयात्त्रिजन्मसु यथाविधि ॥ १२२ ॥

Transliteration

homo'yaṃ śāṃtidaḥ proktaḥ sarvābhayapradāyakaḥ | dravyairetaiḥ prajuhuyāttrijanmasu yathāvidhi || 122 ||

Translation

Dieser Homa ist als Spender von Frieden und als Gewährer völliger Furchtlosigkeit verkündet worden. Mit eben diesen Opfergaben soll man nach Vorschrift die Gaben in das Feuer darbringen, über drei Geburten (drei Leben) hinweg.

Word by Word

• होमः: the oblation/rite (homa)
• होमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शान्तिदः: peace-giving
• शान्तिदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānti-da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समास: शान्ति + द (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: “giver of peace”)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vac (कृदन्त; वच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP: “has been declared/said”)

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• अभय: fearlessness/safety
• अभय: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• प्रदायकः: giver of all fearlessness
• प्रदायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-dāyaka (कृदन्त; दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समास: सर्व-अभय-प्रदायक (तत्पुरुष: “giver of all safety”)

• द्रव्यैः: with substances/materials
• द्रव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• प्रजुहुयात्: one should offer (into fire)
• प्रजुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-hu (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिजन्मसु: in three births (over three lifetimes)
• त्रिजन्मसु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: त्रि + जन्मन् (“three births”)

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथाविधि: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā-vidhi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव: यथा + विधि (“according to rule”)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/ritual instruction sequence)

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 presents a śānti-homa as a means of inner and outer pacification—removing fear (abhaya) by aligning one’s action with Vedic injunction (yathāvidhi), so the rite becomes a sustained purifier of karma.

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

While the verse is primarily ritual-technical, its emphasis on śānti and abhaya supports bhakti indirectly: a fear-free, pacified mind is considered fit for steady remembrance and worship, making devotion firm and undistracted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual discipline: correct materials (dravya) and correct procedure (yathāvidhi) in homa, stressing that precision in rite is itself a source of auspicious results (śānti, abhaya).