Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
सौं सौं हौमिति संभाष्य परतो तों गुह्यशक्तये । नेत्रमुक्तं श्लीपशुं हुं फडंते नेत्रं शक्तये ॥ ६१ ॥
sauṃ sauṃ haumiti saṃbhāṣya parato toṃ guhyaśaktaye | netramuktaṃ ślīpaśuṃ huṃ phaḍaṃte netraṃ śaktaye || 61 ||
“सौं सौं हौम्” इति बीजानि उच्चार्य, ततः गुह्यशक्तये “तों” विन्यसेत्। अनन्तरं नेत्रशक्त्यर्थं “हुं फट्” अन्तं नेत्रमन्त्रं प्रयुञ्जीत, नेत्रमुक्तिं कुर्यात्॥
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
This verse teaches a precise mantra-vidhi: specific bīja-syllables are recited and then applied as śakti (power) through nyāsa-like activation—especially the ‘netra-śakti,’ indicating disciplined ritual empowerment rather than casual recitation.
While primarily technical, it supports bhakti in a ritual mode: devotion is expressed through correct mantra procedure (vidhi), where sacred sound is treated as a means to consecrate perception (the ‘eye’) and protect the practitioner’s worship.
It highlights applied mantra-prayoga (ritual procedure) and phonetic precision (śikṣā-like concern for exact syllables), including the functional use of bīja-s (e.g., huṃ, phaṭ) for protection and completion of a rite.