Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

हृदयं पंचभिः प्रोक्तं शिरः षड्भिरुदाहृतम् । शिखा दशभिराख्याता नवभिः कवचं मतम् ॥ १८० ॥

Transliteration

hṛdayaṃ paṃcabhiḥ proktaṃ śiraḥ ṣaḍbhirudāhṛtam | śikhā daśabhirākhyātā navabhiḥ kavacaṃ matam || 180 ||

Translation

มนตร์หฤทยะ (หัวใจ) กล่าวว่ามีห้าพยางค์; มนตร์ศิระ (ศีรษะ) สอนว่ามีหกพยางค์. มนตร์ศิขา (มวยผม) ระบุว่ามีสิบพยางค์ และมนตร์กวจะ (เกราะ) เข้าใจกันว่ามีเก้าพยางค์.

Word by Word

• हृदयम्: the heart (region/center)
• हृदयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पञ्चभिः: by five (syllables/units)
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (in passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• षड्भिः: by six
• षड्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• उदाहृतम्: is stated/mentioned
• उदाहृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (in passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

• शिखा: the topknot/crest (śikhā)
• शिखा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दशभिः: by ten
• दशभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• आख्याता: is called/named
• आख्याता: Karma (कर्म/Object) (in passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

• नवभिः: by nine
• नवभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• कवचम्: the armor/covering
• कवचम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मतम्: is considered/held to be
• मतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (in passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It codifies the measured structure of aṅga-mantras used in nyāsa, showing that protection and inner purification are performed through precisely formed mantra-units rather than vague recitation.

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

By prescribing heart, head, śikhā, and armor mantras, it supports devotional worship with disciplined ritual limbs—helping the devotee focus the mind and consecrate the body as an instrument of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-prayoga: syllable-count discipline and correct application of aṅga-nyāsa/kavaca for ritual accuracy and efficacy.