Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

भिक्षाहारो जपेन्मासं मनुमेनं जितेंद्रियः । नित्यं सहस्रमष्टार्द्धं परां विंदति वाक्छ्रियम् ॥ १४५ ॥

Transliteration

bhikṣāhāro japenmāsaṃ manumenaṃ jiteṃdriyaḥ | nityaṃ sahasramaṣṭārddhaṃ parāṃ viṃdati vākchriyam || 145 ||

Translation

ഭിക്ഷാഹാരത്തിൽ ജീവിച്ച് ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെ ജയിച്ച്, ഒരു മാസം ഈ മന്ത്രം ജപിക്കണം. നിത്യവും ആയിരത്തി എട്ട് പ്രാവശ്യം ജപിച്ചാൽ പരമ വാക്‌ശ്രീ ലഭിക്കും.

Word by Word

• भिक्षा-आहारः: one whose food is alms
• भिक्षा-आहारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भिक्षायाः आहारः)

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

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; काल-अवधि (duration)

• मनुम्: the mantra (manu)
• मनुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एनम्: this (one)
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जित-इन्द्रियः: self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त (past participle) ‘जित’; बहुव्रीहिः (जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: daily/always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्या/परिमाण

• अष्ट-अर्धम्: half of eight (i.e., four)
• अष्ट-अर्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अष्टानाम् अर्धम् = half of eight = four)

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• विन्दति: attains/finds
• विन्दति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाक्-श्रियम्: splendour/fortune of speech (eloquence)
• वाक्-श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वाचः श्रीः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructional context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-power matures through restraint: living simply (bhikṣāhāra), mastering the senses, and sustained japa for a fixed period yields vāk-śrī—purified, effective, and spiritually potent speech.

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

Although framed as a technical japa rule, it aligns with bhakti by emphasizing disciplined repetition and self-control—making speech a vehicle for sacred remembrance and praise rather than distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-śāstra practice: a prescribed count (1008), a fixed observance period (one month), and ascetic discipline—core features of ritual procedure and correct recitation standards associated with Vedanga-oriented training.