Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 173

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

हनुयुग्मं ततो भूतांस्त्रासयद्वितयं पुनः । भूयो मंडलमध्ये स्यात्कटयुग्मं ततः परम् ॥ १७३ ॥

Transliteration

hanuyugmaṃ tato bhūtāṃstrāsayadvitayaṃ punaḥ | bhūyo maṃḍalamadhye syātkaṭayugmaṃ tataḥ param || 173 ||

Translation

Kemudian (hendaklah dibentuk) sepasang rahang; selepas itu, sekali lagi, (hendaklah digambarkan) dua makhluk yang menimbulkan ketakutan. Lagi pula, di tengah bulatan maṇḍala, seterusnya hendaklah ada sepasang pinggul.

Word by Word

• हनु-युग्मम्: the pair of jaws
• हनु-युग्मम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनु (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘हन्वोः युग्मम्’ (pair of jaws)

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• भूतान्: beings/spirits
• भूतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); बहुवचन

• त्रासयत्-वितयम्: the frightening pair (twofold)
• त्रासयत्-वितयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रासयत् (त्रस्-धातु, णिच्, शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त) + वितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः: ‘त्रासयत्’ (frightening) + ‘वितयम्’ (pair/twofold set)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Repetition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्त्यर्थक

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘again/furthermore’

• मण्डल-मध्ये: in the middle of the circle/diagram
• मण्डल-मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘मध्ये’ इति सप्तमी-आधारित अव्ययार्थः (in the middle)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कट-युग्मम्: the pair of hips/waist
• कट-युग्मम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘कट्योः युग्मम्’ (pair of hips/waist-sides)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• परम्: next
• परम्: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग; ‘next’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the technical/Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes precise ritual-technical construction: specific features (jaws, frightening beings, hips) must be placed in order within a mandala, reflecting the Purana’s stress on correct procedure (vidhi) for effective protection/ritual outcome.

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

Direct bhakti is not the main focus here; the verse belongs to the technical stream of Book 1.3, where disciplined ritual details support a devotee’s practice by creating a properly consecrated, protective sacred space for worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technical know-how—structured placement within a maṇḍala (diagrammatic layout and sequencing), a procedural skill allied to kalpa-style ritual discipline and related technical traditions.