Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

स्वाहावृत्तमिदं बीजं विगलत्परमामृतम् । चन्द्रबिंबस्थितं मूर्ध्नि ध्यातं क्ष्वेडगदापहम् ॥ १६५ ॥

Transliteration

svāhāvṛttamidaṃ bījaṃ vigalatparamāmṛtam | candrabiṃbasthitaṃ mūrdhni dhyātaṃ kṣveḍagadāpaham || 165 ||

Translation

This seed-syllable, encircled by the utterance “svāhā,” drips the supreme nectar. Meditated upon as abiding in the lunar orb at the crown of the head, it removes the ailment of kṣveḍa, the toxic affliction.

Word by Word

• svāhā-vṛttam: (seed) encircled/formed by ‘svāhā’
• svāhā-vṛttam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svāhā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (कृदन्त, √vṛt धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि/क्त (past passive participle) ‘vṛtta’ used adjectivally; समासः षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (svāhāyāḥ vṛttam)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• bījam: seed (mantra-seed)
• bījam: Karta/Ādhāra of description (कर्ता/आश्रय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vigalat: dripping, oozing
• vigalat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vigalat (कृदन्त, √gal धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ (present active participle) used adjectivally

• parama-amṛtam: supreme nectar
• parama-amṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (paramam amṛtam)

• candra-bimba-sthitam: situated in the moon-disc
• candra-bimba-sthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + bimba (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त, √sthā धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘sthita’ = क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (candra-bimbe sthitam)

• mūrdhni: on the head
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhyātam: meditated upon
• dhyātam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyāta (कृदन्त, √dhyai धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); क्त (past passive participle) ‘meditated upon’ used adjectivally

• kṣveḍa-gadā-apaham: removing poisoning and disease
• kṣveḍa-gadā-apaham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣveḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from apa√hṛ/√han sense ‘remove’)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुवस्तु-तत्पुरुषः (kṣveḍa-gadāyāḥ apahaḥ / kṣveḍaṃ gadāṃ ca apahanti iti) used as adjective ‘remover’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Svāhā
• Candra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It links mantra-śakti with inner yogic visualization: the bīja, empowered by “svāhā,” is contemplated at the crown in the lunar sphere, symbolizing cooling amṛta (nectar) that purifies and protects the practitioner.

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

Though technical in tone, it reflects bhakti through reverent reliance on sacred sound (mantra) and disciplined remembrance (dhyāna), treating divine mantra as a protective refuge that removes suffering and impurity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-prayoga (ritual/technical use of sacred syllables) combined with dhyāna-vidhi (method of meditation/visualization), a hallmark of Vedanga-oriented instruction in the Purana’s technical sections.