Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 184

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भूतवेतालकादीनां क्षयोऽयं निग्रहे मनुः । तारो वांतो धरासंस्थो वामनेत्रेंदुभूषितः ॥ १८४ ॥

Transliteration

bhūtavetālakādīnāṃ kṣayo'yaṃ nigrahe manuḥ | tāro vāṃto dharāsaṃstho vāmanetreṃdubhūṣitaḥ || 184 ||

Translation

Pour réprimer les bhūta, les vetāla et autres semblables, voici le mantra qui cause leur destruction. Son ṛṣi (voyant) est Manu ; sa divinité/forme associée est Tārā ; son emploi est « se tenir sur la terre » ; et son signe iconographique est la lune, ornement de l’œil gauche.

Word by Word

• भूतवेतालकादीनाम्: of the bhūtas, vetālas, and others
• भूतवेतालकादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + वेतालक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (भूत-वेतालक-आदि), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• क्षयः: destruction
• क्षयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• निग्रहे: in restraint/suppression
• निग्रहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मनुः: Manu (the lawgiver)
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तारः: Tāra (name/epithet)
• तारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वामतः: from the left/leftwards
• वामतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त/ablatival adverb)

• धरासंस्थः: situated on the earth/grounded
• धरासंस्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धरा + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (धरायां संस्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वामनेत्रेन्दुभूषितः: adorned with the moon on the left eye
• वामनेत्रेन्दुभूषितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम + नेत्र + इन्दु + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (वाम-नेत्रे इन्दुना भूषितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedāṅga/mantra-lakṣaṇa style list)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Tāra
• Bhūta
• Vetāla
• Indu (Moon)

FAQs

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

It frames protection and purification as a dhārmic discipline: negative forces (bhūtas/vetālas) are restrained through mantra-knowledge, with precise mantra-lakṣaṇa markers (ṛṣi, devatā, and symbolic features) rather than fear-based superstition.

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

Bhakti is implied through reliance on sacred sound and the divine ordering of forces: one seeks refuge in mantra aligned to its devatā and proper application, treating protection as service to cosmic law rather than personal vengeance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, Vedāṅga-style cataloging of mantras—assigning ṛṣi (Manu), devatā (Tāra), and application/markers—used in ritual practice for nigraha (restraint) and rakṣā (protection).