Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

देवता चार्द्धनारीशो विनियोगोऽखिलाप्तये । हलो वीजानि चोक्तानि स्वराः शक्तय ईरिताः ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

devatā cārddhanārīśo viniyogo'khilāptaye | halo vījāni coktāni svarāḥ śaktaya īritāḥ || 121 ||

Translation

Die präsidierende Gottheit ist Ardhanārīśvara, und seine Anwendung (viniyoga) dient dem Erlangen von allem. Die Konsonanten werden als Samen-Silben (bīja) erklärt, die Vokale als Kräfte (śakti) gelehrt.

Word by Word

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अर्द्ध-नारी-ईशः: Ardhanārīśa
• अर्द्ध-नारी-ईशः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्राय: ‘अर्द्धनारीरूप ईशः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विनियोगः: application/assignment (viniyoga)
• विनियोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अखिल-आप्तये: for the attainment of all (results)
• अखिल-आप्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘अखिलस्य आप्तिः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• हलः: consonants
• हलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हल् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘consonants’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बीजानि: seed-syllables
• बीजानि: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• उक्तानि: are said
• उक्तानि: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘(बीजानि) उक्तानि’

• स्वराः: vowels
• स्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शक्तयः: powers (śaktis)
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ईरिताः: are declared
• ईरिताः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर्/ईरय् (धातु) → ईरित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘(शक्तयः) ईरिताः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ardhanarishvara

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-science in a precise ritual grammar: every mantra has a devatā (presiding deity) and a viniyoga (intended use), and it links sound-structure to spiritual potency by identifying consonants with bīja (seed) and vowels with śakti (power).

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

By naming the devatā as Ardhanārīśvara, it emphasizes focused devotion to a chosen divine form (devatā-bhāva) and disciplined mantra-use (viniyoga) as a means to fulfill aims while remaining anchored in reverence to the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-vidhi: it teaches a functional mapping of varṇas—consonants as bīja-elements and vowels as śakti-elements—useful for correct mantra analysis, recitation, and ritual application.