Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 143

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कक्षाबद्धभुजंगं च सुप्रसन्नं हरं स्मरेत् । अयुतद्वयसंयुक्तगुणलक्षं जपेन्मनुम् ॥ १४३ ॥

Transliteration

kakṣābaddhabhujaṃgaṃ ca suprasannaṃ haraṃ smaret | ayutadvayasaṃyuktaguṇalakṣaṃ japenmanum || 143 ||

Translation

ഭുജത്തിൽ ബന്ധിച്ച സർപ്പത്തോടുകൂടി പരമ പ്രസന്നനായ ഹരൻ (ശിവൻ)നെ സ്മരിക്കണം. പിന്നെ ശുഭഗുണലക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തമായ ആ മന്ത്രം ഇരുപതിനായിരം പ്രാവശ്യം ജപിക്കണം॥

Word by Word

• कक्षाबद्ध-भुजङ्गम्: with a serpent bound at the armpit/around the shoulder
• कक्षाबद्ध-भुजङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त; √बन्ध् (धातु) क्त) + भुजङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कक्षायां बद्धः भुजङ्गः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सु-प्रसन्नम्: very serene/pleased
• सु-प्रसन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु + प्रसन्नः)

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• स्मरेत्: should meditate/remember
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अयुत-द्वय-संयुक्त-गुण-लक्षम्: having the mark/collection of qualities joined with two ayutas (20,000)
• अयुत-द्वय-संयुक्त-गुण-लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) सम्-उपसर्ग, क्त) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अयुतद्वयेन संयुक्तं गुणलक्षं यस्य/यत्)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मनुम्: the mantra
• मनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र/मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)
• Bhujaṅga (serpent)

FAQs

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

It links visualization (dhyāna) of a specific divine form—serene Hara with the serpent-ornament—to disciplined mantra-japa, showing that inner contemplation and measurable practice together stabilize the sādhaka’s mind and devotion.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as smaraṇa (remembrance) of the deity’s auspicious form and steady japa; the verse emphasizes a personal, reverent focus on the Lord’s qualities (guṇa) rather than mere mechanical repetition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical sādhanā instruction—mantra-japa with a specified saṅkhyā (count: twenty thousand)—a procedural detail typical of Vedāṅga-aligned ritual discipline and mantra-prayoga traditions.