Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

हुं फट् कवचमुद्दिष्टं नीलकंठिन इत्यतः । स्वाहांतमस्त्रमेतानि पंचागानि मनोर्विदुः ॥ १५४ ॥

Transliteration

huṃ phaṭ kavacamuddiṣṭaṃ nīlakaṃṭhina ityataḥ | svāhāṃtamastrametāni paṃcāgāni manorviduḥ || 154 ||

Translation

«Huṃ phaṭ» est déclaré être le kavaca, l’« armure » du mantra. À partir de la formule « nīlakaṇṭhinī » et au-delà, la finale « svāhā » est comprise comme l’astra, l’« arme ». Les sages savent que ce sont les cinq membres (pañcāṅga) du mantra.

Word by Word

• हुं: huṃ (seed syllable)
• हुं: Mantra-Particle (मन्त्रांश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हुं (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-बीजाक्षर (seed syllable)

• फट्: phaṭ (mantric exclamation)
• फट्: Mantra-Particle (मन्त्रांश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: फट् (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-बीजाक्षर/उच्चारण-विशेष (phaṭ)

• कवचम्: the armor-mantra (kavaca)
• कवचम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• उद्दिष्टम्: is prescribed
• उद्दिष्टम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु) → उद्दिष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘is indicated/prescribed’

• नीलकण्ठिनः: of Nīlakaṇṭhin (Śiva)
• नीलकण्ठिनः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीलकण्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation-Marker (उद्धरणचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निर्देशक (quotative particle)

• अतः: therefore/from this
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/from this)

• स्वाहा-अन्तम्: ending with ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहा-अन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘स्वाहायाः अन्तः यस्य’ = ending with svāhā

• अस्त्रम्: the weapon-mantra (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पञ्च-अङ्गानि: the five limbs (pañcāṅga)
• पञ्च-अङ्गानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical)

• मनौः: of the mantra / of Manu (i.e., of the mantra-formula)
• मनौः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विदुः: they know
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; ‘they know’

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Nīlakaṇṭhinī

FAQs

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

It codifies how a mantra is ritually ‘armed’ for protection and efficacy—identifying kavaca (protective seal) and astra (activating discharge) as essential components of the mantra’s operational structure.

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

Even in devotion, the Purāṇa preserves disciplined mantra-prayoga: bhakti is supported by correct invocation and protective/activating formulae, ensuring worship is both heartfelt and properly performed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical ritual science—mantra-structure and application (nyāsa/anga-vinyāsa, kavaca, astra), a technical discipline aligned with auxiliary Vedic ritual method rather than narrative theology.