Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अक्षरात्मा निगदितो मंत्रो मृत्युञ्जयात्मकः । ऋषइः कहोलो देव्यादिगायत्री छन्द ईरितम् ॥ १०९ ॥

Transliteration

akṣarātmā nigadito maṃtro mṛtyuñjayātmakaḥ | ṛṣaiḥ kaholo devyādigāyatrī chanda īritam || 109 ||

Translation

Ce mantra est déclaré avoir pour essence l’akṣara, la syllabe impérissable, et être de la nature de Mṛtyuñjaya, le Vainqueur de la Mort. Son ṛṣi (voyant) est Kahola, et son chandas (mètre) est dit être le Devyādi-Gāyatrī.

Word by Word

• अक्षरात्मा: (the mantra) whose essence is syllables
• अक्षरात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षर + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अक्षरः आत्मा यस्य’ इति (name/epithet)

• निगदितः: is stated
• निगदितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + गद् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मृत्युञ्जयात्मकः: having the nature of Mṛtyuñjaya
• मृत्युञ्जयात्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्युञ्जयात्मक (प्रातिपदिक; मृत्युञ्जय + आत्मक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मृत्युञ्जयः आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्य’

• ऋषिभिः: by the sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन

• कहोलः: Kahola (sage)
• कहोलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कहोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ऋषिनाम

• देव्यादिगायत्री: Devī-ādi Gāyatrī (a Gāyatrī-type)
• देव्यादिगायत्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव्यादिगायत्री (प्रातिपदिक; देवी + आदि + गायत्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘देवी-आदि-गायत्री’ इति छन्दोनाम/गायत्री-प्रकारः

• छन्दः: the meter
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ईरितम्: is declared
• ईरितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical mantra-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mṛtyuñjaya
• Kahola

FAQs

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

It identifies the mantra’s inner principle as the imperishable akṣara and frames it as Mṛtyuñjaya in essence—pointing to protection, longevity, and transcendence over fear of death through mantra-upāsanā.

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

By naming the mantra as Mṛtyuñjaya-ātmaka, it directs devotion toward the death-conquering divine power; bhakti here is expressed as reverent mantra-japa aligned with the mantra’s r̥ṣi and chandas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (metre) and mantra-vidhi: the verse states the ṛṣi (Kahola) and the chandas (Devyādi-Gāyatrī), which are core components of correct viniyoga (application) in Vedic recitation and ritual.