Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 198

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

बलिमन्त्रोऽयमाख्यातः सर्वकामफलप्रदः । सोपदेशं बृहत्पिण्डे कृत्वा रात्रिषु साधकः ॥ १९८ ॥

Transliteration

balimantro'yamākhyātaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ | sopadeśaṃ bṛhatpiṇḍe kṛtvā rātriṣu sādhakaḥ || 198 ||

Translation

Dies ist das gelehrte Bali-Mantra; es verleiht die Früchte aller gewünschten Ziele. Nachdem der Übende es mit rechter Unterweisung über einem großen Opfer-Piṇḍa vollzogen hat, soll er die Übung in der Nacht ausführen.

Word by Word

• बलि-मन्त्रः: the bali-mantra
• बलि-मन्त्रः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘बल्यर्थो मन्त्रः/बलिमन्त्रः’

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

• आख्यातः: is declared/taught
• आख्यातः: क्रिया (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आख्यात (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-ppp from √ख्या with आ-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त (PPP) प्रयोगः—कर्मणि/भावे; ‘has been declared/taught’

• सर्व-काम-फल-प्रदः: giver of the fruits of all desires
• सर्व-काम-फल-प्रदः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा with प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषां कामानां फलप्रदः’

• स-उपदेशम्: together with instruction
• स-उपदेशम्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषणम्—‘उपदेशसहितम्/with instruction’

• बृहत्-पिण्डे: in/on a large lump/ball (of offering)
• बृहत्-पिण्डे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः ‘बृहत् पिण्डः’

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having done/made’

• रात्रिषु: on nights
• रात्रिषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक; from √साध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructional/vidhi passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames the Bali-mantra as a formally transmitted (sopadeśa) ritual tool whose efficacy depends on correct instruction and proper offering, emphasizing disciplined sādhanā rather than casual recitation.

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

Indirectly: it highlights that devotional-ritual acts gain power when performed as taught by a guru/tradition (upadeśa), aligning personal desires with a regulated sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical procedure (kalpa/vidhi): the use of a specific mantra for bali (offering), the requirement of authorized instruction, and the timing rule of performing the practice at night.