Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

कृष्णवर्णं पिङ्गलया रचयेत्स्वाग्रतस्तथा । क्षिपेदस्त्रेण तत्पश्चात्कल्पिते कुलिशोपले ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇavarṇaṃ piṅgalayā racayetsvāgratastathā | kṣipedastreṇa tatpaścātkalpite kuliśopale || 65 ||

Translation

وبمادة «پِنْگَلا» ذات اللون الأصفر، ليرسم أمامه علامةً أو هيئةً سوداء. ثم بعد ذلك، بمانترا «أسترا» (سلاح)، ليقذفها على الحجر المُهَيَّأ الشبيه بالصاعقة/الفَجْرَة (kuliśa-upala).

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-varṇam: black-colored
• kṛṣṇa-varṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• piṅgalayā: with piṅgalā (nāḍī)
• piṅgalayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṅgalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• racayet: should arrange/construct
• racayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rac (रच् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sva-agrataḥ: in front of oneself
• sva-agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + agrataḥ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb), ‘in front of oneself’

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• kṣipet: should throw/cast
• kṣipet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• astreṇa: with a weapon/with the (mantra-)weapon
• astreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• tat: then/thereupon
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (correlative particle)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• kalpite: when prepared/arranged
• kalpite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (कॢप् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘prepared/arranged’; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative absolute-like)

• kuliśa-upale: on/at the thunderbolt-like stone
• kuliśa-upale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuliśa (प्रातिपदिक) + upala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada a technical ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined ritual action: correct preparation (kalpita), correct form/marking (racayet), and correct mantra-empowerment (astreṇa), showing that sacred power is applied through rule-based practice rather than impulse.

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

While primarily technical, it reflects bhakti through obedience to the guru’s injunctions and reverence for mantra as sacred speech—devotion expressed as careful, faithful performance of prescribed acts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (kalpa-style method) and mantra-prayoga (use of the Astra-mantra), including preparation of the ritual support (upala) and the sequence of drawing and casting.