Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
मनुलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं तत्सहस्रं यथाविधि । जुहुयान्मान्मधुससिक्तैरारग्वधसमिद्वरैः ॥ ३९ ॥
manulakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ tatsahasraṃ yathāvidhi | juhuyānmānmadhusasiktairāragvadhasamidvaraiḥ || 39 ||
One should repeat the mantra one hundred thousand times; thereafter, in the prescribed manner, one should perform a thousand oblations in the fire (homa), offering excellent āragvadha twigs that have been sprinkled with honey.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on prescribed ritual methods)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It links inner practice (lakṣa-japa, sustained mantra repetition) with outer completion (sahasra-homa), showing the Purāṇic-Vedic principle that disciplined repetition culminates in a consecrating fire-offering performed strictly by vidhi.
Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing steady mantra-japa and a concluding offering—acts that focus attention, purify intention, and ritually dedicate the fruits of practice to the deity invoked by the mantra.
It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-style vidhi): fixed counts for japa and homa, and the rule of using specific samid (āragvadha twigs) prepared with honey—details typical of technical Vedic praxis.