Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

एकलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं त्रिशतं मधुराप्लुतैः । तिलैर्हुनेद्यजेत्पीठे शैवेंगावरणैः सह ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

ekalakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ triśataṃ madhurāplutaiḥ | tilairhunedyajetpīṭhe śaiveṃgāvaraṇaiḥ saha || 163 ||

Translation

Qu’on récite le mantra cent mille fois ; puis qu’on accomplisse trois cents oblations (homa) avec des offrandes humectées de miel. Qu’on offre du sésame au feu et qu’on rende un culte sur le pīṭha sacré, avec les rites auxiliaires śaiva et les enceintes protectrices (aṅga-āvaraṇa).

Word by Word

• एकलक्षम्: one lakh (100,000)
• एकलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical): ‘एकं लक्षम्’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिशतम्: three hundred
• त्रिशतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘त्रीणि शतानि’ (three hundred)

• मधुराप्लुतैः: with sweetly intoned (sounds)
• मधुराप्लुतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर + आप्लुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (contextual), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘मधुरया (स्वरया) आप्लुतैः’ (with sweet intonations/elongations)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हुनेत्: should offer (into fire)
• हुनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पीठे: on the altar/seat (pīṭha)
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• शैव-इङ्गावरणैः: with Śaiva auxiliaries/attendant circles
• शैव-इङ्गावरणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव + इङ्ग + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शैव-इङ्गानां आवरणैः’ (with Śaiva limb-encircling/auxiliary coverings/attendants)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (indeclinable postposition), अर्थे: ‘सहितम्’ (together with)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/ritual-technical discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a complete sādhana-cycle—japa (inner discipline) followed by homa and pīṭha-pūjā (outer consecration)—showing that realization is supported by both repetition of mantra and ritual purification/offerings.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of sustained mantra-recitation and reverent worship at a sacred seat, where offerings (honey, sesame) symbolize sweetness of devotion and purification through sacrificial fire.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and counts (saṅkhyā), homa-method (kalpa-oriented practice), and the use of aṅga/āvaraṇa as technical components of mantra-ritual performance are emphasized.