Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

वदेत्तद्विष्णुशक्तिभ्यां हृदयं प्रणवादिकम् । त्वगसृङ्मांसमेदोऽस्थिमज्जाशुक्राण्यसून्वदेत् ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

vadettadviṣṇuśaktibhyāṃ hṛdayaṃ praṇavādikam | tvagasṛṅmāṃsamedo'sthimajjāśukrāṇyasūnvadet || 101 ||

Translation

Man soll das Herz-Mantra (hṛdaya) sprechen, beginnend mit dem Praṇava (Oṃ), und es Viṣṇu zusammen mit Seinen Śaktis zuweisen. Ebenso soll man die entsprechenden Formeln für Haut, Blut, Fleisch, Fett, Knochen, Mark, Samen und die Lebensatemzüge rezitieren.

Word by Word

• वदेत्: should utter/recite
• वदेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• विष्णु-शक्तिभ्याम्: by (the two) powers of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-शक्तिभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (शक्ति), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), द्विवचन (Dual); तत्पुरुष-समासः: विष्णोः शक्तिः (Viṣṇu’s power)

• हृदयम्: the heart (mantra ‘hṛdaya’)
• हृदयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रणव-आदिकम्: beginning with the praṇava (Om)
• प्रणव-आदिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः: प्रणवः आदिः यस्य (beginning with praṇava/Om)

• त्वक्: skin
• त्वक्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• असृक्: blood
• असृक्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असृज्/असृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मांस: flesh
• मांस: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मेदः: fat
• मेदः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्थि: bone
• अस्थि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मज्जा: marrow
• मज्जा: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुक्राणि: semen (vital fluid)
• शुक्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• असून्: life-breaths/vital airs
• असून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वदेत्: should utter
• वदेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedāṅga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shakti
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It teaches internal consecration: the Praṇava-led heart-mantra is installed with Viṣṇu and His Śaktis, and the practitioner sanctifies the body’s constituents and prāṇas, aligning the microcosm with the deity.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as embodied remembrance—reciting Viṣṇu’s mantra not only verbally but by dedicating one’s very body and life-breaths to Viṣṇu-Śakti through nyāsa-like contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical application of mantra (prayoga): Praṇava usage, hṛdaya-mantra recitation, and body-part/inner-element mapping typical of disciplined sādhana instructions found in Vedāṅga-adjacent practice.