Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

एकलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं त्रिशतं मधुराप्लुतैः । तिलैर्हुनेद्यजेत्पीठे शैवेंगावरणैः सह ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

ekalakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ triśataṃ madhurāplutaiḥ | tilairhunedyajetpīṭhe śaiveṃgāvaraṇaiḥ saha || 163 ||

Translation

Man rezitiere das Mantra ein Lakṣa (100.000) Mal; danach vollziehe man dreihundert Feueropfergaben (homa) mit honigbenetzten Opferstoffen. Man opfere Sesam ins Feuer und verehre am heiligen pīṭha, zusammen mit śaivischen Nebenriten und den Schutzumfriedungen (aṅga-āvaraṇa).

Word by Word

• एकलक्षम्: one lakh (100,000)
• एकलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical): ‘एकं लक्षम्’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिशतम्: three hundred
• त्रिशतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘त्रीणि शतानि’ (three hundred)

• मधुराप्लुतैः: with sweetly intoned (sounds)
• मधुराप्लुतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर + आप्लुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (contextual), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘मधुरया (स्वरया) आप्लुतैः’ (with sweet intonations/elongations)

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

• हुनेत्: should offer (into fire)
• हुनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पीठे: on the altar/seat (pīṭha)
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• शैव-इङ्गावरणैः: with Śaiva auxiliaries/attendant circles
• शैव-इङ्गावरणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव + इङ्ग + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शैव-इङ्गानां आवरणैः’ (with Śaiva limb-encircling/auxiliary coverings/attendants)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (indeclinable postposition), अर्थे: ‘सहितम्’ (together with)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/ritual-technical discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a complete sādhana-cycle—japa (inner discipline) followed by homa and pīṭha-pūjā (outer consecration)—showing that realization is supported by both repetition of mantra and ritual purification/offerings.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of sustained mantra-recitation and reverent worship at a sacred seat, where offerings (honey, sesame) symbolize sweetness of devotion and purification through sacrificial fire.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and counts (saṅkhyā), homa-method (kalpa-oriented practice), and the use of aṅga/āvaraṇa as technical components of mantra-ritual performance are emphasized.