Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
नानाशस्त्रं चतुर्वक्त्रं स्मरेत्पशुपतिं हरम् । वर्णलक्षं जपेन्मन्त्रं जुहुयात्तद्दशांशतः ॥ १८७ ॥
nānāśastraṃ caturvaktraṃ smaretpaśupatiṃ haram | varṇalakṣaṃ japenmantraṃ juhuyāttaddaśāṃśataḥ || 187 ||
Qu’on se souvienne de Hara, Paśupati—à quatre visages, portant maintes armes. Qu’on récite le mantra jusqu’à cent mille (syllabes/lettres), puis qu’on offre au feu des oblations égales au dixième de ce nombre.
Narada (teaching in a technical-ritual context within Purva Bhaga, Third Pada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It links inner practice (dhyāna on Paśupati) with disciplined outer practice (measured japa and homa), presenting a complete sādhana where concentration, repetition, and sacrificial offering reinforce each other.
Bhakti here is expressed as sustained remembrance of the deity’s form and qualities (smaraṇa/dhyāna) supported by mantra-japa; devotion becomes steady through regulated repetition and a concluding offering (homa) as an act of surrender.
It highlights ritual numerics and procedure—counting syllables/recitations (varṇa-lakṣa) and applying the daśāṃśa (one-tenth) rule for homa—typical of technical disciplines governing correct performance of rites.