Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

त्रिनेत्रं पंचवक्त्रं च सर्वभीतिहरं शिवम् । तत्त्वलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं दीक्षितः शैववर्त्मना ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

trinetraṃ paṃcavaktraṃ ca sarvabhītiharaṃ śivam | tattvalakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ dīkṣitaḥ śaivavartmanā || 16 ||

Translation

Wer auf dem śaivischen Pfad eingeweiht ist, soll die die Tattvas bezeichnende Mantra-Japa sprechen und dabei Śiva betrachten: den dreiaugigen, fünffachgesichtigen Herrn, der alle Furcht vertreibt.

Word by Word

• त्रिनेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (three-eyed)

• पञ्चवक्त्रम्: five-faced
• पञ्चवक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (five-faced)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वभीतिहरम्: remover of all fears
• सर्वभीतिहरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भीति + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः सर्वासां भीतीनां हरः = remover of all fears

• शिवम्: Shiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्त्वलक्षम्: having truth as its aim/mark
• तत्त्वलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्त्वं लक्ष्यं यस्य/तत्त्वलक्षः = ‘having reality as its mark/aim’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष? (actually मध्यमपुरुष implied by injunction) एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘(he) should recite’

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दीक्षितः: the initiated (person)
• दीक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षित (कृदन्त; √दिक्ष्/√दीक्ष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (initiated)

• शैववर्त्मना: by the Shaiva path
• शैववर्त्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः शैवं वर्त्म = ‘Shaiva path/discipline’; करण (instrument/means)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa becomes fully grounded when performed after proper dīkṣā, with focused meditation on Śiva’s iconic forms (three-eyed, five-faced) as the remover of fear, linking inner contemplation with disciplined ritual authority.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent mantra-japa and contemplative visualization of Śiva’s attributes; devotion is not only emotion but a regulated practice undertaken within the Śaiva tradition after initiation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-japa procedure within an authorized ritual framework—emphasizing dīkṣā (initiation), correct recitation practice, and tattva-oriented contemplation, which aligns with applied ritual science (Kalpa) and disciplined phonetic/recitational standards (Śikṣā).