Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पञ्चाक्षरसमायुक्तो वसुवर्णो मनुर्मतः । पंचाक्षरोक्तवत्कुर्यादंगन्यासादिकं बुधः ॥ १०२ ॥

Transliteration

pañcākṣarasamāyukto vasuvarṇo manurmataḥ | paṃcākṣaroktavatkuryādaṃganyāsādikaṃ budhaḥ || 102 ||

Translation

പഞ്ചാക്ഷരങ്ങളോടു ചേർന്നും ‘വസു-വർണ്ണ’ ലക്ഷണത്താൽ അടയാളപ്പെട്ടും ഉള്ള മന്ത്രമാണ് വിധേയമന്ത്രമായി കരുതപ്പെടുന്നത്. പണ്ഡിതനായ সাধകൻ പഞ്ചാക്ഷരമന്ത്രത്തിൽ പറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ അങ്കന്യാസാദി ക്രിയകൾ ചെയ്യണം।

Word by Word

• पञ्च-अक्षर-समायुक्तः: joined with five syllables
• पञ्च-अक्षर-समायुक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर + समायुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘समायुक्त’ = सम्यक् युक्तः

• वसु-वर्णः: the ‘vasu’ syllable/phoneme
• वसु-वर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वसुवर्ण’ = वसूनां वर्णः/वसु-नामक-वर्णः

• मनुः: the mantra
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मतः: is considered/held to be
• मतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्/√मि ‘to think’ से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘मनुः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पञ्च-अक्षर-उक्त-वत्: as stated for the five-syllable (mantra)
• पञ्च-अक्षर-उक्त-वत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर + उक्त + वत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘वत्’ = तुल्यतासूचक (like/as); समासेन क्रियाविशेषणत्वम्

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अङ्ग-न्यास-आदिकम्: aṅga-nyāsa and the like
• अङ्ग-न्यास-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + न्यास + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अङ्गन्यास’ = अङ्गेषु न्यासः; ‘आदि’ = etc.

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-power is stabilized through correct ritual application—especially nyāsa—so the mantra is not merely recited but properly installed in the practitioner’s body and worship.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined upāsanā: the devotee honors the mantra with prescribed placements (nyāsa), showing reverence, attentiveness, and methodical worship rather than casual repetition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual technique and phonetic/letter-classification used in mantra practice (a practical application aligned with Śikṣā/phonetics and procedural kalpa-style worship methods), specifically the rule to follow pañcākṣara-vidhi for aṅga-nyāsa and related acts.