Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

लक्षत्रयं जपेन्मंत्रं तद्दशांशं ससर्पिषा । हविषा जुहुयात्सम्यक्संस्कृते हव्यवाहने ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣatrayaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ taddaśāṃśaṃ sasarpiṣā | haviṣā juhuyātsamyaksaṃskṛte havyavāhane || 157 ||

Translation

真言を三ラクシャ（30万）回ジャパし、次にその十分の一の回数として、清浄に整えられた供火の中へ、ギーと供物（havis）を正しく投じて供養すべきである。供物を運ぶ者、アグニに。

Word by Word

• लक्ष-त्रयम्: three lakhs (300,000)
• लक्ष-त्रयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; number/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu; ‘त्रीणि लक्षाणि’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्-दश-अंशम्: one-tenth of that
• तत्-दश-अंशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; measure for offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दश (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; ‘तस्य दशमः अंशः’ = one-tenth of that), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स-सर्पिषा: with ghee
• स-सर्पिषा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-अर्थक ‘स’ (indeclinable prefix meaning ‘with’) + सर्पिस्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हविषा: with oblation
• हविषा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• संस्कृते: in the duly prepared (fire)
• संस्कृते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (कृदन्त; सम्√कृ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle ‘prepared/purified’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) सम्भव; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); अधिकरण-विशेषण (qualifier of place)

• हव्य-वाहने: in the fire (carrier of offerings)
• हव्य-वाहने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; ‘हव्यं वहति’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Havyavahana)

FAQs

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

It teaches the classical prayoga principle that mantra-siddhi is stabilized by disciplined japa and then sealed through homa—offering a prescribed fraction (one-tenth) into a properly consecrated fire to sanctify the practice and its results.

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing a reverent, orderly way to worship through mantra and fire-offerings, treating the mantra as a sacred means of approaching the deity via Agni as the offering-carrier.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual science (Kalpa) is emphasized: fixed japa counts, the dashamsha rule for homa, and the requirement of a saṁskṛta (properly prepared) fire for correct performance.