Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 130

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

देवता दक्षिणामूर्तिर्नाम्ना शंभुरुदीरितः । तारशक्तियुक्तैः पूर्वं ह्रीमाद्यंतैश्च मंत्रजैः ॥ १३० ॥

Transliteration

devatā dakṣiṇāmūrtirnāmnā śaṃbhurudīritaḥ | tāraśaktiyuktaiḥ pūrvaṃ hrīmādyaṃtaiśca maṃtrajaiḥ || 130 ||

Translation

Dewa penaungnya ialah Dakṣiṇāmūrti, yang juga disebut dengan nama Śambhu. Mula-mula hendaklah digunakan mantra-mantra yang disertai kuasa Tāra, serta rumusan mantra yang bermula dan berakhir dengan “Hrīm”.

Word by Word

• devatā: the deity
• devatā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• dakṣiṇā-mūrtiḥ: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
• dakṣiṇā-mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• nāmnā: by name
• nāmnā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• śaṃbhuḥ: Śambhu
• śaṃbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• udīritaḥ: is uttered/called
• udīritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative; ‘is called/said’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-īr (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; passive sense

• tāra-śakti-yuktaiḥ: endowed with tāra and śakti
• tāra-śakti-yuktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √yuj)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसakaliṅga (n.) (context: with mantrajaiḥ), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• pūrvam: first/beforehand
• pūrvam: Kāla/krama (काल/क्रम; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• hrīm-ādi-antaiḥ: having ‘hrīm’ at the beginning and end
• hrīm-ādi-antaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrīm (मन्त्र-बीज/प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसakaliṅga (n.) (agreeing with mantrajaiḥ), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable conjunction)

• mantrajāiḥ: with mantras (mantra-born/formed)
• mantrajāiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣiṇāmūrti
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Tāra (Oṃ)
• Hrīm (bīja)

FAQs

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

It identifies the devatā for the practice as Dakṣiṇāmūrti/Śambhu and stresses correct mantra-structure (Tāra/Oṃ and Hrīm framing), implying that realization depends on precise alignment of deity, sound-power (śakti), and method.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: devotion guided by mantra-vidhi, where reverence for Dakṣiṇāmūrti (the guru-form of Śiva) is enacted through correctly empowered sacred syllables.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and phonetic/structural precision—using specific bīja elements (Tāra/Oṃ, Hrīm) and their placement—reflects technical ritual knowledge aligned with śikṣā (proper recitation) and applied mantra-śāstra.