Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
अक्षरात्मा निगदितो मंत्रो मृत्युञ्जयात्मकः । ऋषइः कहोलो देव्यादिगायत्री छन्द ईरितम् ॥ १०९ ॥
akṣarātmā nigadito maṃtro mṛtyuñjayātmakaḥ | ṛṣaiḥ kaholo devyādigāyatrī chanda īritam || 109 ||
Mantra ini dinyatakan berinti pada akṣara, suku kata yang tidak binasa, dan bersifat sebagai Mṛtyuñjaya—Penakluk Kematian. Ṛṣi bagi mantra ini ialah Kahola, dan chandasnya dikatakan Devyādi-Gāyatrī.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical mantra-vidhi)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It identifies the mantra’s inner principle as the imperishable akṣara and frames it as Mṛtyuñjaya in essence—pointing to protection, longevity, and transcendence over fear of death through mantra-upāsanā.
By naming the mantra as Mṛtyuñjaya-ātmaka, it directs devotion toward the death-conquering divine power; bhakti here is expressed as reverent mantra-japa aligned with the mantra’s r̥ṣi and chandas.
Chandas (metre) and mantra-vidhi: the verse states the ṛṣi (Kahola) and the chandas (Devyādi-Gāyatrī), which are core components of correct viniyoga (application) in Vedic recitation and ritual.