Shloka 18

Glory of Puruṣottama: Pañcatīrthī Observance and Narasiṃha Worship

Devanagari script

मूलमंत्रेण संपूज्य मार्कंडेयेशमादरात् । अघोरेण तु मंत्रेण प्रणिपत्य क्षमापयेत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

mūlamaṃtreṇa saṃpūjya mārkaṃḍeyeśamādarāt | aghoreṇa tu maṃtreṇa praṇipatya kṣamāpayet || 18 ||

Translation

以根本真言（mūla-mantra）恭敬供奉摩尔甘德耶沙（Mārkaṇḍeyeśa）；继而以阿戈罗真言（Aghora-mantra）俯伏顶礼，祈求宽恕。

Word by Word

• मूल-मन्त्रेण: with the principal mantra
• मूल-मन्त्रेण: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘मूलः मन्त्रः’ (principal mantra)

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाले/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यप्), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मार्कण्डेय-ईशम्: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Lord (Śiva)
• मार्कण्डेय-ईशम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मार्कण्डेयस्य ईशः’

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: हेतु (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (ablatival adverb): पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे ‘आदरात्’ = out of reverence

• अघोरेण: with the Aghora (mantra)
• अघोरेण: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; (अघोर-मन्त्रस्य) करणत्वेन

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाले/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + √पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यप्), अव्ययभाव; ‘प्रणामं कृत्वा’

• क्षमापयेत्: should ask forgiveness / cause (him) to forgive
• क्षमापयेत्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षम (धातु) (causative/णिच्: क्षमापय-)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeyeśa
• Aghora (mantra/aspect of Śiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offerings but by humility—after honoring the deity with the principal mantra, the practitioner seals the rite with prostration and a forgiveness-prayer, acknowledging human error and seeking purification.

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

Bhakti is shown as reverent service (ādara), surrender (praṇipāta), and repentance (kṣamā)—a relationship where the devotee worships, bows, and asks the Lord to overlook mistakes made in ritual or conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga (applied mantra procedure) and ritual sequencing—using a mūla-mantra for the main worship and a specific mantra (Aghora) for kṣamā-yācñā, aligning with Śikṣā (proper recitation) and Kalpa-style ritual method.