Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भूताधिपतये स्वाहा पूजामन्त्रोऽयमीरितः । सिद्धमंत्रोऽयमुदितो जपादेव प्रसिद्ध्यति ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

bhūtādhipataye svāhā pūjāmantro'yamīritaḥ | siddhamaṃtro'yamudito japādeva prasiddhyati || 176 ||

Translation

„Svāhā dem Bhūtādhipati, dem Herrn der Wesen“—so wird dieses Verehrungs-Mantra verkündet. Dieses bewährte (siddha) Mantra ist gelehrt worden; allein durch Japa wird es wirksam und berühmt.

Word by Word

• भूताधिपतये: to the lord of beings
• भूताधिपतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् अधिपतिः)

• स्वाहा: svāhā (oblation call)
• स्वाहा: Sambodhana/Mantra-pada (सम्बोधन/मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत् मन्त्रपदम्)
• Form: मन्त्र-निपातः (ritual exclamation), अव्यय

• पूजामन्त्रः: worship-mantra
• पूजामन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पूजायाः मन्त्रः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ईरितः: is declared/uttered
• ईरितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) → ईरित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सिद्धमन्त्रः: the accomplished/effective mantra
• सिद्धमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सिद्धः मन्त्रः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उदितः: is stated/said
• उदितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु) → उदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जपात्: from recitation
• जपात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रसिद्ध्यति: becomes well-known/successful
• प्रसिद्ध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhūtādhipati

FAQs

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

It affirms that a properly taught worship-mantra gains its power through steady japa, emphasizing inner discipline over mere external ritual.

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

By presenting worship as heartfelt repetition and remembrance (japa), it frames devotion as continuous, personal engagement with the deity addressed as “Lord of beings.”

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (practical application of mantras) and the discipline of japa as a ritual-technical method—central to the Vedanga-oriented sections on correct recitation and worship procedure.