Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 151

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

तृतीया लांगलीशार्णमंत्रो बीजत्रयान्वितः । नीलकंठात्मकः प्रोक्तो विषद्वयहरः परः ॥ १५१ ॥

Transliteration

tṛtīyā lāṃgalīśārṇamaṃtro bījatrayānvitaḥ | nīlakaṃṭhātmakaḥ prokto viṣadvayaharaḥ paraḥ || 151 ||

Translation

Die dritte Formel ist das Lāṅgalīśāraṇa-Mantra, ausgestattet mit den drei Samen-Silben. Es wird gelehrt, dass es der Natur Nīlakaṇṭhas, des blaukehligen Herrn, entspricht und in höchstem Maße das zweifache Gift vertreibt.

Word by Word

• तृतीया: the third (one)
• तृतीया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• लाङ्गली-शार्ण-मन्त्रः: the mantra of Lāṅgalī (with ‘śārṇa’ element)
• लाङ्गली-शार्ण-मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गली + शार्ण + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘लाङ्गल्याः शार्णः मन्त्रः’ इति (determinative)

• बीज-त्रय-अन्वितः: endowed with three seed-syllables
• बीज-त्रय-अन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज + त्रय + अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √अन्वि/अनु+इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; ‘बीजत्रयेण अन्वितः’ (instrumental sense)

• नीलकण्ठ-आत्मकः: of the nature of Nīlakaṇṭha
• नीलकण्ठ-आत्मकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीलकण्ठ + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘नीलकण्ठस्वरूपः’ इति

• प्रोक्तः: is declared/said
• प्रोक्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘is said/declared’ (passive sense)

• विष-द्वय-हरः: remover of the two poisons
• विष-द्वय-हरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + द्वय + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘विषद्वयं हरति’ इति (agentive)

• परः: supreme/other (excellent)
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva)

FAQs

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

It presents a technical protective mantra (with bīja-syllables) aligned with the Nīlakaṇṭha principle—transforming and neutralizing toxicity—thereby indicating mantra as a disciplined means to remove harmful influences.

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

By identifying the mantra with Nīlakaṇṭha, it directs the practitioner to invoke and rely upon the deity’s power; devotion is expressed through precise remembrance and recitation that seeks divine protection and purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga is emphasized—structured recitation using bīja-traya (three seed-syllables) and deity-identification (nyāsa-like principle), reflecting the text’s technical/ritual orientation within Book 1.3.