Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

नीलकंठाय ठद्वंद्वं शिखामंत्रोऽयमीरितः । कालकूटपदस्यांते विषभक्षणङेयुतम् ॥ १५३ ॥

Transliteration

nīlakaṃṭhāya ṭhadvaṃdvaṃ śikhāmaṃtro'yamīritaḥ | kālakūṭapadasyāṃte viṣabhakṣaṇaṅeyutam || 153 ||

Translation

Pour Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva), la conjonction «ṭha-dvandva» est prescrite : elle est déclarée être le śikhā-mantra. À la fin du mot «kālakūṭa», il faut la comprendre avec l’expression indiquant «l’absorption du poison».

Word by Word

• नीलकण्ठाय: to Nīlakaṇṭha
• नीलकण्ठाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीलकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ठ-द्वन्द्वम्: the pair (repetition) of ‘ṭha’
• ठ-द्वन्द्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ठ + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘ठ-इत्यस्य द्वन्द्वम्/युग्मम्’ (pair of ‘ṭha’)

• शिखा-मन्त्रः: the śikhā-mantra (tuft-mantra)
• शिखा-मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘शिखायाः मन्त्रः’

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ईरितः: is declared
• ईरितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) → ईरित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘is declared/uttered’

• कालकूट-पदस्य: of the word ‘kālakūṭa’
• कालकूट-पदस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालकूट + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘कालकूटस्य पदम्’

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• विष-भक्षण-गे-युतम्: joined with ‘ge’ (seed) of poison-eating
• विष-भक्षण-गे-युतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + भक्षण + गे + युत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √युज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; ‘विषभक्षणगेन युतम्’ (instrumental sense); ‘गे’ = ‘ग’/‘गे’ इति बीजाक्षर-रूपेण (seed syllable)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical rules of Shiksha/phonetics in a mantra-nyasa context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Nilakantha (Shiva)
• Kalakuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-power depends on precise phonetics (śikṣā). Even devotional or Shaiva references (Nīlakaṇṭha and kālakūṭa) are framed through correct sound-formation and ritual application (śikhā-mantra in nyāsa).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship: reverence to Nīlakaṇṭha is not only emotional but also technical—reciting and applying mantras correctly is presented as a form of faithful service (sevā) in ritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-Śikṣā: guidance on consonantal combinations and word-end phonetic joining in mantra contexts, specifically identifying a required “ṭha” conjunct and how it is to be combined in recitation/nyāsa.