Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 161

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

रेफादिव्यंजनैः षड्भिः कुर्यादंगानि षट् क्रमात् । त्रिनेत्रं नीलमणिभं शूलपाशं कपालकम् ॥ १६१ ॥

Transliteration

rephādivyaṃjanaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ kuryādaṃgāni ṣaṭ kramāt | trinetraṃ nīlamaṇibhaṃ śūlapāśaṃ kapālakam || 161 ||

Translation

Mit den sechs Konsonanten, beginnend mit „ra“ (repha), vollziehe man der Reihe nach die sechs Glieder-Setzungen (aṅga-nyāsa). Man meditiere die Gottheit dreiaugig, leuchtend wie ein blauer Edelstein, den śūla (Dreizack), den pāśa (Schlinge) und das kapāla (Schädelgefäß) tragend.

Word by Word

• रेफादि-व्यञ्जनैः: by consonants beginning with ‘ra’
• रेफादि-व्यञ्जनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेफ + आदि + व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘रेफादीनि व्यञ्जनानि’

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (नपुंसक-रूप); संख्या-विशेषण

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial use), अर्थे: ‘क्रमेण’ (in order/ क्रमशः)

• त्रिनेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य’ (usage often adjectival)

• नीलमणिभम्: blue-gem-like in lustre
• नीलमणिभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + मणि + भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘नीलमणि-इव भम्’ (shining like a blue gem)

• शूलपाशम्: trident and noose
• शूलपाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार/itaretara sense): ‘शूलं च पाशं च’

• कपालकम्: skull(-bowl)
• कपालकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure of nyasa/meditation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (three-eyed deity)
• Repha (ra)

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-practice: aligning sound (specific consonants) with the body through aṅga-nyāsa, then stabilizing the mind through a precise dhyāna (visualization) of the deity—sound, body, and contemplation made one.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused worship: the devotee internalizes the mantra via nyāsa and then offers the mind in steady remembrance of the deity’s form and attributes, turning ritual precision into concentrated devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa-oriented mantra technique—using classified phonemes (vyañjana letters) for ritual nyāsa—showing how phonetics and sound-order are applied in sādhana and worship procedures.