Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
प्रणवो हृदयं पश्चान् ङेंतः पशुपतिः पुनः । तारो नमो भूतपदं ततोऽधिपतये ध्रुवम् ॥ १६८ ॥
praṇavo hṛdayaṃ paścān ṅeṃtaḥ paśupatiḥ punaḥ | tāro namo bhūtapadaṃ tato'dhipataye dhruvam || 168 ||
ആദ്യം ഹൃദയത്തിൽ പ്രണവം ‘ഓം’ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യുക; പിന്നെ ‘ങേം’ അന്തമുള്ള പദം ചേർക്കുക. വീണ്ടും ‘പശുപതി’ എന്നു ഉച്ചരിക്കുക. തുടർന്ന് താരക ‘ഓം’, പിന്നെ ‘നമോ’, പിന്നെ ‘ഭൂത’ പദം; അവസാനം ദൃഢമായി ‘അധിപതയേ’ എന്നു പറയുക.
Narada (teaching a technical mantra-arrangement within Vedanga-oriented instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It teaches a disciplined, step-by-step mantra placement and recitation—beginning with Oṃ in the heart—so the practitioner’s inner seat (hṛdaya) becomes aligned with the deity-invocation and the mantra gains steadiness (dhruvam).
Bhakti here is expressed as reverent invocation—using “namo” and divine epithets—combined with inner placement (heart-nyāsa), showing devotion as both inward contemplation and outward mantra-salutation.
Śikṣā/phonetics and mantra-krama (ordered recitation) are emphasized—specific syllabic elements (like nasal endings) and fixed sequencing are presented as essential for correct ritual utterance.