Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
प्रणवो हृदयं पश्चान् ङेंतः पशुपतिः पुनः । तारो नमो भूतपदं ततोऽधिपतये ध्रुवम् ॥ १६८ ॥
praṇavo hṛdayaṃ paścān ṅeṃtaḥ paśupatiḥ punaḥ | tāro namo bhūtapadaṃ tato'dhipataye dhruvam || 168 ||
پہلے دل میں پرنَو ‘اوم’ کا نیاس کرو؛ پھر ‘ङیں/نگیں’ پر ختم ہونے والا پد رکھو۔ دوبارہ ‘پشوپتی’ کہو۔ اس کے بعد تارک ‘اوم’، پھر ‘نمو’، پھر ‘بھوت’ والا لفظ؛ اور آخر میں پختگی سے ‘ادھپتَیے’ کہو۔
Narada (teaching a technical mantra-arrangement within Vedanga-oriented instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It teaches a disciplined, step-by-step mantra placement and recitation—beginning with Oṃ in the heart—so the practitioner’s inner seat (hṛdaya) becomes aligned with the deity-invocation and the mantra gains steadiness (dhruvam).
Bhakti here is expressed as reverent invocation—using “namo” and divine epithets—combined with inner placement (heart-nyāsa), showing devotion as both inward contemplation and outward mantra-salutation.
Śikṣā/phonetics and mantra-krama (ordered recitation) are emphasized—specific syllabic elements (like nasal endings) and fixed sequencing are presented as essential for correct ritual utterance.