Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

एकादशाहुतीर्नित्यं दूर्वाभिर्जुहुयाद् बुधः । अपमृत्युजिदेव स्यादायुरारोग्यवर्द्धनम् ॥ १२४ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśāhutīrnityaṃ dūrvābhirjuhuyād budhaḥ | apamṛtyujideva syādāyurārogyavarddhanam || 124 ||

Translation

Le sage doit offrir régulièrement onze oblations avec l’herbe dūrvā. Ce faisant, il devient vraiment vainqueur de la mort prématurée, et s’accroissent la longévité et la santé sans maladie.

Word by Word

• एकादश: eleven
• एकादश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; द्विगु-समास (एक + दश); अत्र विशेषणरूपेण (qualifying āhutīḥ)

• आहुतीः: oblations
• आहुतीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• नित्यम्: always/daily
• नित्यम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative usage)

• दूर्वाभिः: with dūrvā grass
• दूर्वाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• जुहुयात्: should offer (in fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• अपमृत्युजित्: conqueror of untimely death
• अपमृत्युजित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apa-mṛtyu-jit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समास: अप-मृत्यु + जित् (तत्पुरुष: “conqueror of untimely death”)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्यात्: would be/becomes
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आयुः: life-span
• आयुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• आरोग्य: health
• आरोग्य: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• वर्द्धनम्: increase (of life and health)
• वर्द्धनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vardhana (कृदन्त; वर्ध् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समास: आयुः-आरोग्य-वर्द्धन (तत्पुरुष: “increasing life and health”)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Dūrvā (sacred grass)
• Agni (fire, implied by oblations)

FAQs

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

It presents a protective Vedic rite: regular fire-offerings with sacred dūrvā are taught as a dharmic means to ward off apamṛtyu (untimely death) and to support longevity and health.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through disciplined, faithful daily practice—offering āhutis with reverence—where ritual acts become a form of devoted service aligned with dharma and divine protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (yajña/āhuti practice): the prescribed count (eleven oblations) and the specific ritual substance (dūrvā), reflecting technical sacrificial know-how used for protective aims.