Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

तद्दशांशं तिलैः शुद्धैर्जुहुयात्क्षीरसंयुतैः । पंचाक्षरोदिते पीठे तद्विधानेन पूजयेत् ॥ १४४ ॥

Transliteration

taddaśāṃśaṃ tilaiḥ śuddhairjuhuyātkṣīrasaṃyutaiḥ | paṃcākṣarodite pīṭhe tadvidhānena pūjayet || 144 ||

Translation

Dann soll man ein Zehntel (davon) mit gereinigtem Sesam, mit Milch vermischt, ins Feuer darbringen; und auf dem durch das fünfsilbige Mantra vorgeschriebenen Pīṭha soll man die Verehrung nach eben dieser Vorschrift vollziehen.

Word by Word

• तत्-दशांशम्: a tenth part of that
• तत्-दशांशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दशांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्य दशांशः)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• शुद्धैः: pure
• शुद्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (तिलैः)

• जुहुयात्: should offer into fire
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• क्षीर-संयुतैः: mixed with milk
• क्षीर-संयुतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त/संयुत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरेण संयुताः) विशेषणम् (तिलैः)

• पञ्च-अक्षर-उदिते: in the seat prescribed by the five-syllable (mantra)
• पञ्च-अक्षर-उदिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त; √उद्/√उद् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चाक्षरेण उदितम्/उक्तम्) विशेषणम् (पीठे)

• पीठे: on the pedestal/seat
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्-विधानेन: by that prescribed procedure
• तत्-विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्य विधानम्)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching the ritual method as part of technical/vidhi instructions)

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 teaches that mantra-worship is completed not only by recitation and pūjā but also by a proportionate homa offering—here, a tenth portion—showing disciplined, rule-based (vidhi) devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as careful service to the Deity through prescribed actions: pure materials, correct proportions, and worship on the mantra-sanctioned pīṭha—devotion guided by śāstric method rather than impulse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual science: the verse highlights homa procedure (juhuyāt), purity of dravya (śuddha tila), and proportion rules (daśāṁśa), reflecting applied Kalpa/ritual-vidhi within the Narada Purana’s technical instruction.