Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अभिचारे ज्वरे स्तंभघोरोन्मादे शिरोगदे । असाध्यरोगे क्ष्वेडार्तौ मोहे दाहे महाभये ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

abhicāre jvare staṃbhaghoronmāde śirogade | asādhyaroge kṣveḍārtau mohe dāhe mahābhaye || 121 ||

Translation

അഭിചാരം, ജ്വരം, സ്തംഭം, ഭീകര ഉന്മാദം, ശിരോരോഗം, അസാധ്യരോഗം, വിഷദംശം/വിഷപീഡ, മോഹം, ദാഹം, മഹാഭയം—ഇവയിലൊക്കെയും (ഈ പ്രയോഗം) ചെയ്യേണ്ടതാണ്।

Word by Word

• अभिचारे: in sorcery/hostile rite
• अभिचारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhicāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative singular)

• ज्वरे: in fever
• ज्वरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• स्तंभ: stiffness/paralysis
• स्तंभ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• घोर: terrible
• घोर: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (qualifier in compound)

• उन्मादे: in (terrible) madness
• उन्मादे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: unmāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; समास: स्तंभ-घोर-उन्माद (तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समुच्चयार्थ; “terrible madness with stiffness”)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• गदे: in head-disease
• गदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; समास: शिरो-गद (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: “disease of the head”)

• असाध्य: incurable
• असाध्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sādhya (कृदन्त; साध् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (negated gerundive: “incurable”)

• रोगे: in incurable disease
• रोगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; समास: असाध्य-रोग (कर्मधारय: “incurable disease”)

• क्ष्वेड: (a kind of) swelling/colic (kṣveḍa)
• क्ष्वेड: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣveḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• आर्तौ: in kṣveḍa-affliction
• आर्तौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; समास: क्ष्वेड-आर्त (तत्पुरुष: “afflicted by kṣveḍa”)

• मोहे: in delusion
• मोहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• दाहे: in burning sensation
• दाहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• महाभये: in great fear
• महाभये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महा + भय (“great fear”)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-application context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames a protective, remedial application of sacred practice: dharmic mantra/rite is presented as a refuge in extreme afflictions—physical, mental, and fear-based—reinforcing faith in Vedic order and divine protection.

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

Though technical in tone, it supports Bhakti indirectly by directing the afflicted to take shelter in sanctioned sacred means (mantra/rite), cultivating surrender and trust rather than panic in crises.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a prayoga (applied-use) orientation typical of technical sections—how specific conditions (fever, head-disease, poison, fear) determine the appropriate ritual/mantra application, aligning practice with precise diagnostic categories.