Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 188

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

गव्येन सर्पिषा मन्त्रो संस्कृते हव्यवाहने । शैवे पीठे यजेदंगमातृलोकेश्वरायुधैः ॥ १८८ ॥

Transliteration

gavyena sarpiṣā mantro saṃskṛte havyavāhane | śaive pīṭhe yajedaṃgamātṛlokeśvarāyudhaiḥ || 188 ||

Translation

Mit kuhstämmigem Ghee soll das Mantra in das ordnungsgemäß geweihte Opferfeuer dargebracht werden. In einem śaivischen heiligen Pīṭha vollziehe man die Verehrung unter Verwendung der (rituellen) Glieder, der Mātṛkās, der Herren der Welten und ihrer Waffen (als rituelle Embleme/Instrumente).

Word by Word

• गव्येन: with cow-(product)
• गव्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘गो’सम्बन्धि (from cow)

• सर्पिषा: with ghee
• सर्पिषा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• संस्कृते: in the well-prepared (state/place)
• संस्कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण — well-prepared/ritually purified

• हव्य-वाहने: in the fire (Agni), carrier of oblations
• हव्य-वाहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — हव्यं वहति इति (Agni)

• शैवे: on/at the Śaiva
• शैवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण — Śaiva

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

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

• अङ्ग-मातृ-लोक-ईश्वर-आयुधैः: with the weapons/implements of Aṅgamātṛlokeśvara
• अङ्ग-मातृ-लोक-ईश्वर-आयुधैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — अङ्गमातृलोकेश्वरस्य आयुधानि (weapons/implements of Aṅgamātṛlokeśvara)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Havyavahana)
• Shiva
• Matrikas (Mother-goddesses)
• Lokeshvaras (Lords of the worlds)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual correctness: purified fire, proper oblations (cow-ghee), and a complete sacred framework (auxiliaries/anga, deities like Mātṛkās and cosmic lords) so the act becomes a disciplined, sanctifying worship rather than a casual offering.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through precise devotional action—offering mantra into Agni and honoring Śaiva deities in their pīṭha—showing devotion as reverent, rule-guided worship (vidhi-yukta upāsanā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical competence: proper consecration/purification (saṃskāra) of the fire, correct dravya (ghee) for homa, and structured worship components (aṅga) aligned with mantra-prayoga.