Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

शार्ङ्गबाणं मस्तके च विन्यसेत्क्रमशः सुधीः । कर्णमूले पार्श्वयोश्च पृष्ठे नाभौ ककुद्यपि ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

śārṅgabāṇaṃ mastake ca vinyasetkramaśaḥ sudhīḥ | karṇamūle pārśvayośca pṛṣṭhe nābhau kakudyapi || 55 ||

Translation

وعلى السالك الحكيم أن يضع، على الترتيب، علامة «شارنغا» والسهم على الرأس؛ وكذلك عند أصول الأذنين، وعلى الجانبين، وعلى الظهر، وعند السُّرّة، وأيضًا على موضع السنام (أعلى الظهر).

Word by Word

• शार्ङ्गबाणम्: Śārṅga-arrow (arrow of Śārṅga bow)
• शार्ङ्गबाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शार्ङ्गस्य बाणः/बाणम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• मस्तके: on the head
• मस्तके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/स्य (धातु: न्यस्/विन्यस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: वि + नि

• क्रमशः: in sequence
• क्रमशः: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (in order, successively)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कर्णमूले: at the root of the ear
• कर्णमूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्णस्य मूलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पार्श्वयोः: on the two sides
• पार्श्वयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (locative/ genitive dual; here locative: on the two sides)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नाभौ: at the navel
• नाभौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ककुदि: on the hump/upper back (nape)
• ककुदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śārṅga

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined, sequential ritual placement (vinyāsa/nyāsa) of Viṣṇu’s emblems (Śārṅga and bāṇa), turning the body into a sanctified support for remembrance and worship.

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

By physically marking/placing Viṣṇu’s symbols on key bodily points, the devotee trains constant, embodied recollection of the Lord—devotion expressed through precise, reverent practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual method—ordered placement (kramaśaḥ vinyāsa) at specified body locations—reflecting procedural discipline typical of auxiliary Vedic sciences used in correct performance of rites.