Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

मनुलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं तत्सहस्रं यथाविधि । जुहुयान्मान्मधुससिक्तैरारग्वधसमिद्वरैः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

manulakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ tatsahasraṃ yathāvidhi | juhuyānmānmadhusasiktairāragvadhasamidvaraiḥ || 39 ||

Translation

ਮੰਤਰ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਲੱਖ ਜਪ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਫਿਰ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇੱਕ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਆਹੁਤੀਆਂ ਦੇਣੀਆਂ—ਸ਼ਹਿਦ ਨਾਲ ਭਿੱਜੀਆਂ ਉੱਤਮ ਆਰਗਵਧ ਸਮਿਧਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਮ ਕਰਨਾ।

Word by Word

• मनुलक्षम्: a lakh (100,000) of mantra-repetitions
• मनुलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु-लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मनोर्/मन्त्रस्य लक्षसंख्या)

• जपेत्: one should chant
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणम् (सहस्रम् इति)

• सहस्रम्: a thousand (times)
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• विधि: rule, prescribed method
• विधि: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (यथा + विधि = ‘according to rule’)

• जुहुयात्: one should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मधुससिक्तैः: with (sticks) sprinkled with honey
• मधुससिक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु-ससिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मधुना ससिक्ताः = sprinkled with honey)

• आरग्वधसमिद्वरैः: with excellent aragvadha fuel-sticks
• आरग्वधसमिद्वरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरग्वध-समिध्-वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समिध्), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आरग्वधस्य समिधः वराः = excellent aragvadha fuel-sticks)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on prescribed ritual methods)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links inner practice (lakṣa-japa, sustained mantra repetition) with outer completion (sahasra-homa), showing the Purāṇic-Vedic principle that disciplined repetition culminates in a consecrating fire-offering performed strictly by vidhi.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing steady mantra-japa and a concluding offering—acts that focus attention, purify intention, and ritually dedicate the fruits of practice to the deity invoked by the mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-style vidhi): fixed counts for japa and homa, and the rule of using specific samid (āragvadha twigs) prepared with honey—details typical of technical Vedic praxis.