Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

प्रणवाद्याश्चतुर्थ्यंता नमोंतास्तु प्रकीर्तिताः । पाददोस्तननासासु मूर्ध्नि बाहुयुगे न्यसेत् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

praṇavādyāścaturthyaṃtā namoṃtāstu prakīrtitāḥ | pādadostananāsāsu mūrdhni bāhuyuge nyaset || 81 ||

Translation

On dit que les mantras commencent par le Praṇava (Oṁ), s’achèvent par le datif (quatrième cas) et se concluent par « namaḥ ». Qu’on accomplisse le nyāsa en les plaçant sur les pieds, les mains, la poitrine, les narines, la tête et sur les deux bras.

Word by Word

• प्रणव-आद्याः: beginning with praṇava
• प्रणव-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘प्रणवः आदिः येषाम्’ (having praṇava as the beginning)

• चतुर्थी-अन्ताः: ending in the dative (4th case)
• चतुर्थी-अन्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘चतुर्थी अन्तः येषाम्’ (ending with the 4th case/dative)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नमस्कारार्थे

• अन्ताः: ending (with)
• अन्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘ending with’ (as qualifier of mantras)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are proclaimed’

• पाद-दोः-स्तन-नासासु: in (the) feet, hands, breasts, and noses
• पाद-दोः-स्तन-नासासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + दोस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समाहारद्वन्द्व/इतरेतरद्वन्द्वार्थः—‘in the feet, hands, breasts, and noses’

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• बाहु-युगे: on the pair of arms
• बाहु-युगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘बाह्वोः युगम्’ (pair of arms)

• न्यसेत्: one should place/apply (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) (न्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context within Vedanga-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Namaḥ

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—sacralizing the body by installing mantra-syllables on specific limbs—so the practitioner’s body becomes fit for worship and focused devotion.

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

By prescribing praṇava- and namaḥ-terminated mantras and their bodily placement, it frames devotion as disciplined worship where reverence (“namaḥ”) and remembrance (mantra) are embodied before offering prayers to the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Vyākaraṇa-informed mantra formation (use of the caturthī/dative ending) and Śikṣā/ritual practice through correct application (nyāsa) on designated body parts.