Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

आपो हिष्ठेति तिसृभिर्मार्जनं च ततश्चरेत् । सुमुत्रिया न इत्युक्त्वा नासास्पृष्टजलेन च ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

āpo hiṣṭheti tisṛbhirmārjanaṃ ca tataścaret | sumutriyā na ityuktvā nāsāspṛṣṭajalena ca || 49 ||

Translation

Dann soll man das Mārjana/Prokṣaṇa (Reinigung durch Besprengen) mit dreimaliger Rezitation von „Āpo hi ṣṭhā…“ vollziehen. Danach, „Sumutriyā naḥ…“ sprechend, tue man es mit Wasser, das die Nasenlöcher berührt hat.

Word by Word

• आपः: “waters …” (mantra opening)
• आपः: Vācya/Mantra-śabda (वाच्य/मन्त्रशब्द)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; मन्त्रारम्भ-शब्दः

• हिष्ठा: “hiṣṭhā” (mantra word)
• हिष्ठा: Vācya/Mantra-śabda (वाच्य/मन्त्रशब्द)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मन्त्रपद-रूपेण (as mantra-word)

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Quotation marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचकः (quotative particle)

• तिसृभिः: with three (verses/ṛks)
• तिसृभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्

• मार्जनम्: sprinkling/cleansing (act)
• मार्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपातः

• ततः: then
• ततः: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• चरेत्: should perform/practise
• चरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• सुमुत्रिया: with (the mantra) “sumutriyā”
• सुमुत्रिया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमुत्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मन्त्रनाम/मन्त्रपद-रूपेण

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Quotation marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचकः

• उक्त्वा: having uttered
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having said)

• नासास्पृष्टजलेन: with water touched to the nose
• नासास्पृष्टजलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा + स्पृष्ट + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (जल-शब्दः), तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः): नासया स्पृष्टं जलम् = ‘water touched by the nose’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपातः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Apah (Sacred Waters)

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner readiness for worship begins with ritual purity: sacred water, empowered by Vedic mantra, is used to remove subtle impurities and establish a sattvic state fit for japa and pūjā.

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

Bhakti is supported by disciplined preparation—purification and correct mantra-use—so that the devotee approaches the deity with reverence, cleanliness, and steadiness of mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga Śikṣā and ritual prayoga: fixed mantra selection, counted recitations (three times), and precise use of water (nāsā-spṛṣṭa) as part of standardized purification practice.