Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

मूर्ध्नि कंठे हृदंभोजे क्रमाद्वीजत्रयं न्यसेत् । बालार्कायुतवर्चस्कं जटाजूटेंदुशोभितम् ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

mūrdhni kaṃṭhe hṛdaṃbhoje kramādvījatrayaṃ nyaset | bālārkāyutavarcaskaṃ jaṭājūṭeṃduśobhitam || 155 ||

Translation

In due order, one should place the three “twice-born” syllables upon the crown of the head, the throat, and the lotus of the heart—visualizing them as radiant like countless rising suns, and beautified by the moon adorning the mass of matted locks (jaṭā).

Word by Word

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• कण्ठे: on the throat
• कण्ठे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृद्-अम्भोजे: in the lotus of the heart
• हृद्-अम्भोजे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हृदः अम्भोजम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्रमात्: in order, successively
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• द्विज-त्रयम्: the triad of ‘twice-born’ (three syllables/units)
• द्विज-त्रयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu; ‘त्रयः द्विजाः’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• बाल-अर्क-आयुत-वर्चस्कम्: having radiance like ten-thousand young suns
• बाल-अर्क-आयुत-वर्चस्कम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘धारम्/देवम्’ implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; ‘बालार्कस्य आयुतवत् वर्चः यस्य’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival)

• जटा-जूट-इन्दु-शोभितम्: adorned with the moon in the matted hair-bun
• जटा-जूट-इन्दु-शोभितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + जूट (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; ‘जटाजूटेन इन्दुना शोभितम्’), शोभित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches internalized worship through nyāsa—installing sacred mantric components in the body’s key centers (head, throat, heart) so the practitioner’s awareness becomes a living altar for meditation and realization.

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

By directing the devotee to visualize a brilliantly radiant, auspicious form while performing nyāsa, it turns recitation into heartfelt contemplative worship—bhakti expressed as embodied remembrance and reverent inner seeing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical method (mantra-vinyāsa/nyāsa and dhyāna-krama), a practical discipline used alongside Vedic recitation—placing mantric units in prescribed locations to stabilize pronunciation, focus, and ritual efficacy.