Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

तद्दशांशं तिलैः शुद्धैर्जुहुयात्क्षीरसंयुतैः । पंचाक्षरोदिते पीठे तद्विधानेन पूजयेत् ॥ १४४ ॥

Transliteration

taddaśāṃśaṃ tilaiḥ śuddhairjuhuyātkṣīrasaṃyutaiḥ | paṃcākṣarodite pīṭhe tadvidhānena pūjayet || 144 ||

Translation

Sepersepuluh dari jumlah itu hendaknya dipersembahkan sebagai homa ke dalam api dengan wijen suci yang dicampur susu. Dan pada pīṭha yang ditetapkan oleh mantra pañcākṣara, hendaknya dilakukan pemujaan menurut tata cara yang sama.

Word by Word

• तत्-दशांशम्: a tenth part of that
• तत्-दशांशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दशांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्य दशांशः)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• शुद्धैः: pure
• शुद्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (तिलैः)

• जुहुयात्: should offer into fire
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• क्षीर-संयुतैः: mixed with milk
• क्षीर-संयुतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त/संयुत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरेण संयुताः) विशेषणम् (तिलैः)

• पञ्च-अक्षर-उदिते: in the seat prescribed by the five-syllable (mantra)
• पञ्च-अक्षर-उदिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त; √उद्/√उद् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चाक्षरेण उदितम्/उक्तम्) विशेषणम् (पीठे)

• पीठे: on the pedestal/seat
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्-विधानेन: by that prescribed procedure
• तत्-विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्य विधानम्)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching the ritual method as part of technical/vidhi instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-worship is completed not only by recitation and pūjā but also by a proportionate homa offering—here, a tenth portion—showing disciplined, rule-based (vidhi) devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as careful service to the Deity through prescribed actions: pure materials, correct proportions, and worship on the mantra-sanctioned pīṭha—devotion guided by śāstric method rather than impulse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual science: the verse highlights homa procedure (juhuyāt), purity of dravya (śuddha tila), and proportion rules (daśāṁśa), reflecting applied Kalpa/ritual-vidhi within the Narada Purana’s technical instruction.