Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 175

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

धाराधिपतिरुद्रोऽयं ज्ञापयत्यग्निसुंदरी । खड्गरावणमंत्रोऽयं सप्तत्यूर्द्धशताक्षरः ॥ १७५ ॥

Transliteration

dhārādhipatirudro'yaṃ jñāpayatyagnisuṃdarī | khaḍgarāvaṇamaṃtro'yaṃ saptatyūrddhaśatākṣaraḥ || 175 ||

Translation

Mantra ini disebut “Rudra, Penguasa Dhārā (aliran)”. Agnisundarī menyingkap dan mengajarkannya. Inilah mantra Khaḍga–Rāvaṇa, terdiri daripada seratus tujuh puluh suku kata.

Word by Word

• धाराधिपतिः: lord of the stream/flow
• धाराधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धारायाः अधिपतिः)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्ञापयति: causes to be known; informs
• ज्ञापयति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• अग्निसुन्दरी: Agni-sundarī (the beautiful one of Agni)
• अग्निसुन्दरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः सुन्दरी)

• खड्गरावणमन्त्रः: the ‘khaḍga-rāvaṇa’ mantra
• खड्गरावणमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग + रावण + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (खड्गस्य रावणः इति/खड्ग-रावण-सम्बद्धः मन्त्रः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सप्तति: seventy
• सप्तति: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-शब्दः

• ऊर्द्धशताक्षरः: having a little over a hundred syllables
• ऊर्द्धशताक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्द्ध + शत + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शत-अक्षरः; ऊर्द्ध-उपपदेन ‘अधिक’ अर्थः)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; technical mantra-catalogue section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Agnisundarī
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It functions as a technical identification verse: it names the mantra’s devatā/association (Rudra), indicates the revealing power (Agnisundarī), and fixes its precise akṣara-count—key requirements for correct mantra-recitation (japa) and ritual application.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined mantra-upāsanā: devotion is safeguarded by accuracy—knowing the deity addressed, the mantra’s identity, and its correct syllabic form—so worship becomes focused and scripturally aligned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-śāstra style precision—especially akṣara-gaṇanā (syllable counting) and correct identification of mantra-devatā—skills connected to śikṣā (phonetics) and the technical disciplines used in ritual recitation.