Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 185

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पाशी बकः कर्णनेत्रवर्मास्त्रांतः षडक्षरः । मनुः पाशुपतास्त्राख्यो ग्रहक्षुद्रनिवारणः ॥ १८५ ॥

Transliteration

pāśī bakaḥ karṇanetravarmāstrāṃtaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraḥ | manuḥ pāśupatāstrākhyo grahakṣudranivāraṇaḥ || 185 ||

Translation

(Voici) les mantras : « Pāśī », « Baka » et « Karṇa-netra-varma-astrānta » ; le mantra aux six syllabes ; et le mantra nommé « Pāśupata-astra »—tous voués à écarter les afflictions dues aux planètes et aux petites forces malfaisantes.

Word by Word

• पाशी: bearing a noose
• पाशी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessing a noose)

• बकः: (named) Baka
• बकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कर्ण-नेत्र-वर्म-अस्त्र-अन्तः: ending with (the words) ‘ear, eye, armor, weapon’
• कर्ण-नेत्र-वर्म-अस्त्र-अन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘कर्णनेत्रवर्मास्त्र’ इत्यस्य अन्तः (end/termination)

• षडक्षरः: six-syllabled
• षडक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (numeral compound)

• मनुः: Manu / a sacred formula (manu)
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पाशुपत-अस्त्र-आख्यः: called ‘Pāśupata-weapon’
• पाशुपत-अस्त्र-आख्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — पाशुपतास्त्र इति आख्यः (so-called)

• ग्रह-क्षुद्र-निवारणः: remover of ग्रह-afflictions and minor evils
• ग्रह-क्षुद्र-निवारणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ग्रहक्षुद्राणां निवारणः (remover)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Pashupati (Shiva)
• Grahas (planetary deities)

FAQs

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

It classifies specific protective mantras as applied tools of mantra-vidyā—meant to neutralize disturbances (upadravas) such as planetary afflictions and lesser harmful forces, showing the Purana’s technical, Vedanga-oriented dimension.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as practical reliance on sacred mantra-power under a guru-led tradition—using authorized formulas for protection while maintaining reverence for the deities invoked (especially the Pāśupata principle).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied Jyotiṣa and ritual technology: ‘graha’ indicates astrological afflictions, and the mention of kavacha/varma and astra-ending formulas points to procedural mantra-usage for śānti (pacification) and rakṣā (protection).