Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

भवेत्रिषवणस्नायी नखश्मश्रुजटाधरः । अधः शायी ब्रह्मचारी पञ्चयज्ञपरायणः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

bhavetriṣavaṇasnāyī nakhaśmaśrujaṭādharaḥ | adhaḥ śāyī brahmacārī pañcayajñaparāyaṇaḥ || 86 ||

Translation

Er soll zu den drei Sandhyās des Tages baden, Nägel (und Haare) sowie Bart ungeschnitten lassen und verfilzte Locken (jaṭā) tragen. Er soll auf dem Boden schlafen, als Brahmacārī leben und den fünf großen täglichen Opfern (pañca-yajña) hingegeben sein.

Word by Word

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• त्रि-सवण-स्नायी: one who bathes thrice daily
• त्रि-सवण-स्नायी: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: त्रिषु सवणेषु स्नायी = one who bathes at the three daily times

• नख-श्मश्रु-जटा-धरः: wearing nails, beard, and matted locks (unkempt)
• नख-श्मश्रु-जटा-धरः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: नखं श्मश्रु जटां च धरति इति (one who keeps nails, beard, and matted hair)

• अधः: on the ground/below
• अधः: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: down/below)

• शायी: sleeping (one who sleeps)
• शायी: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); कृदन्त: णिनि/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun) from धातु शी (to lie/sleep): one who sleeps

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: ब्रह्मणि/वेदे चरति इति

• पञ्च-यज्ञ-परायणः: devoted to the five daily sacrifices
• पञ्च-यज्ञ-परायणः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: पञ्चयज्ञेषु परायणः = devoted to the five sacrifices

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

FAQs

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

It defines a vrata-like standard of purity and restraint—tri-sandhya bathing, austerity, and pañca-mahāyajña—meant to steady the mind and make daily life itself a continuous sacrifice.

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

By prescribing disciplined conduct (brahmacarya, simplicity, nitya-karmas), it builds the inner cleanliness and steadiness that support sustained remembrance and worship—key foundations for mature Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The timing of tri-sandhya practices reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa-informed daily junctions (sandhyā), while pañca-yajñas summarize household and social duties as a structured nitya-karma framework.