Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

इत्यावाह्य जले तानि सुधाबीजेन योजयेत् । गोमुद्र यामृतीकृत्य कवचेनावगुण्ठ्य च ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

ityāvāhya jale tāni sudhābījena yojayet | gomudra yāmṛtīkṛtya kavacenāvaguṇṭhya ca || 28 ||

Translation

هكذا، بعد استحضارهنّ في الماء، فليُوصَلْنَ (وليُقَوَّيْنَ) بمانترا «سودها-بيجا» (Sudhā-bīja). ثم باستعمال «غو-مودرا» (Go-mudrā) يُجعل الماء كالأمريتا، ويُغطّى ويُصان بترتيلة «كافَچا» (Kavaca).

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक/उद्धरणसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-प्राय (gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘आह्वाय/आवाह्य’ = having invoked/brought near

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तानि: those (tīrthas)
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सुधाबीजेन: with the nectar-seed (mantric seed)
• सुधाबीजेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुधायाः बीजम्)

• योजयेत्: should join/apply
• योजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गोमुद्रया: with the go-mudrā (cow-gesture)
• गोमुद्रया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोः मुद्रा)

• अमृतीकृत्य: having made (it) ambrosial
• अमृतीकृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अमृत + कृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative sense implied + क्त्वान्त (gerund); अव्ययभाव; ‘अमृतं कृत्वा’ = having made (it) nectar-like

• कवचेन: with (a) protective covering/armor (mantra)
• कवचेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अवगुण्ठ्य: having covered/veiled
• अवगुण्ठ्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + गुण्ठ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘अवगुण्ठ्य’ = having veiled/covered

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual method within Vedanga-aligned practice)

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 outlines a consecration sequence: invoking sacred presence into water, empowering it with a bīja-mantra, transforming it into amṛta-like sanctified water, and sealing it with protective kavaca—showing how ritual purity is established and safeguarded.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent service through precise ritual acts—invocation, sanctification, and protection—performed with faith that the mantra-presence makes the water spiritually efficacious.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidhi: āvāhana (invocation), bīja-mantra usage, mudrā-prayoga (hand-gesture technique), and kavaca (protective mantra) as technical components of ritual procedure.