Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 169

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

नमोरुद्राय युगलं खङ्गरावण शब्दतः । विहरद्वितयं पश्चान्नरीनृत्ययुगं पृथक् ॥ १६९ ॥

Transliteration

namorudrāya yugalaṃ khaṅgarāvaṇa śabdataḥ | viharadvitayaṃ paścānnarīnṛtyayugaṃ pṛthak || 169 ||

Translation

Das Paar, das mit „namo rudrāya“ beginnt, ist mit einem Klang wie dem Klirren von Schwertern zu sprechen. Danach werden die beiden „viharad-“ Einheiten rezitiert, und sodann, getrennt, das Paar, das mit „narī-nṛtya“, dem Tanz der Frauen, verbunden ist.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nipāta used as indeclinable (निपात/अव्यय); governs dative (चतुर्थी)

• rudrāya: to Rudra
• rudrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yugalam: a pair, a couple
• yugalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yugala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• khaṅga-rāvaṇa: (the) sword-roaring
• khaṅga-rāvaṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) (as stem used in compound), Genitive relation implied; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘of sword-roaring’ (khaṅgasya rāvaṇaṃ) used as qualifier of ‘śabdataḥ’

• śabdataḥ: by/from the sound
• śabdataḥ: Hetu/Instrumental sense (हेतु/करणार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अव्ययीभाववत्) ‘from/by the sound’

• viharad-dvayam: a moving/roaming pair
• viharad-dvayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viharad (कृदन्त, vi√hṛ धातु) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः ‘a pair that is moving/playing’ (viharad dvayam)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla/krama (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• narī-nṛtya-yugam: the pair ‘narī’ and ‘nṛtya’
• narī-nṛtya-yugam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narī (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः तत्पुरुषः ‘pair/couplet of (words) “narī” and “nṛtya”’ (narī-nṛtyayoḥ yugam)

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पृथक्त्ववाचक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/vedanga-style register, as transmitted in Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

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

It frames mantra/recitation as a disciplined Vedic science: not only the words, but their sonic force, sequencing, and distinct delivery are treated as spiritually efficacious in ritual contexts.

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

Even when the passage is technical, it supports bhakti by safeguarding correct utterance of reverential formulas like “namo rudrāya,” emphasizing attentive, embodied worship through sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Shiksha (Vedic phonetics) and ritual recitation method: it specifies paired units (yugala/dvitaya), their order, and a prescribed sound-quality (e.g., sword-clang resonance) for performance.