Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

प्रणवो हृदयं पश्चान् ङेंतः पशुपतिः पुनः । तारो नमो भूतपदं ततोऽधिपतये ध्रुवम् ॥ १६८ ॥

Transliteration

praṇavo hṛdayaṃ paścān ṅeṃtaḥ paśupatiḥ punaḥ | tāro namo bhūtapadaṃ tato'dhipataye dhruvam || 168 ||

Translation

D’abord, place le Praṇava « Oṃ » dans le cœur ; ensuite vient la finale nasale « ṅeṃ ». Puis, de nouveau, prononce « Paśupati ». Ajoute alors le Tāraka « Oṃ », suivi de « namo », puis du mot « bhūta » ; après quoi, dis fermement : « adhipataye », au Seigneur souverain.

Word by Word

• praṇavaḥ: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla/krama (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• ṅeṃtaḥ: the syllable ‘ṅeṃtaḥ’
• ṅeṃtaḥ: Upapada/Mantra-aṅga (उपपद/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṅeṃtaḥ (मन्त्राक्षर/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Mantric syllable/seed-form (मन्त्राक्षर), treated as indeclinable (अव्यय)

• paśupatiḥ: Paśupati (Lord of beings)
• paśupatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (paśūnām patiḥ)

• punaḥ: again/further
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरुक्ति/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• tāraḥ: tāra (the syllable ‘tāra’/Oṃkāra aspect)
• tāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nipāta used as indeclinable (निपात/अव्यय); governs dative (चतुर्थी)

• bhūta-padam: the word ‘bhūta’
• bhūta-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhūtasya padam) ‘the word/syllable “bhūta”/the bhūta-word’

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/krama (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• adhipataye: to the lord/overlord
• adhipataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया) used as indeclinable sense ‘certainly’

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical mantra-arrangement within Vedanga-oriented instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Paśupati (Shiva)
• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined, step-by-step mantra placement and recitation—beginning with Oṃ in the heart—so the practitioner’s inner seat (hṛdaya) becomes aligned with the deity-invocation and the mantra gains steadiness (dhruvam).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent invocation—using “namo” and divine epithets—combined with inner placement (heart-nyāsa), showing devotion as both inward contemplation and outward mantra-salutation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā/phonetics and mantra-krama (ordered recitation) are emphasized—specific syllabic elements (like nasal endings) and fixed sequencing are presented as essential for correct ritual utterance.