Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अमुना मनुना दद्यादासनं गिरिजापतेः । मूर्तिं मूलेन संकल्प्य तत्रावाह्य यजेच्छिवम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

amunā manunā dadyādāsanaṃ girijāpateḥ | mūrtiṃ mūlena saṃkalpya tatrāvāhya yajecchivam || 22 ||

Translation

Mit eben diesem Mantra soll man dem Herrn Girijās (Śiva) ein Āsana, einen Sitz, darbringen. Indem man durch das Wurzel-Mantra die Gestalt der Gottheit im Geist fasst, rufe man Ihn dortherbei und verehre dann Śiva.

Word by Word

• amunā: with that
• amunā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• manunā: by/with the mantra (manu)
• manunā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadyāt: should give/offer
• dadyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-lin (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• āsanam: a seat
• āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• girijā-pateḥ: of Girijā’s lord (Śiva)
• girijā-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (girijāyāḥ patiḥ)

• mūrtim: the form/icon
• mūrtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūlena: with the root-(mantra)
• mūlena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃkalpya: having conceived/visualized
• saṃkalpya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√kḷp (कॢप् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), having formed/imagined

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√vah (वह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), having invoked

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-lin (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Girija (Parvati)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship becomes effective when it is mantra-led and intention-led: the deity is first mentally established (saṃkalpa), then invoked (āvāhana), and only then honored through offerings like āsana.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as respectful, personal service to Śiva—offering Him a seat and invoking His presence—showing devotion as attentive ritual hospitality supported by inner visualization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual sequencing and mantra-prayoga: using the prescribed mantra for āsana, performing saṃkalpa (mental formation), then āvāhana (invocation) before proceeding with worship—core procedure in āgamic/vaidika-style pūjā practice.