Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

वाद्यैर्गींतैर्मनोज्ञैश्च देवस्यारार्तिकं भवेत् । इति नीराजनं कृत्वा प्रार्थयित्वा निजेश्वरम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

vādyairgīṃtairmanojñaiśca devasyārārtikaṃ bhavet | iti nīrājanaṃ kṛtvā prārthayitvā nijeśvaram || 14 ||

Translation

Mit wohlklingenden Gesängen und Musikinstrumenten soll man dem Herrn das ārārtika (Ārati) darbringen. Nachdem man so das nīrājana (das Schwenken der Lichter) vollendet hat, soll man sodann zu seinem eigenen Herrn beten.

Word by Word

• वाद्यैः: with musical instruments
• वाद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गीतैः: with songs
• गीतैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मनोज्ञैः: pleasing, delightful
• मनोज्ञैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjective) qualifying वाद्यैः/गीतैः

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

• देवस्य: of the deity (God)
• देवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आरार्तिकम्: ārati (waving of lights)
• आरार्तिकम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवेत्: should be / should take place
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• नीराजनम्: the nīrājana (ārati rite)
• नीराजनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done’

• प्रार्थयित्वा: having prayed
• प्रार्थयित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रार्थय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having prayed/requested’

• निजेश्वरम्: one’s own Lord
• निजेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive/determinative: निजस्य ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instruction context, traditionally framed within dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the worshipped deity)
• Ishvara (the Lord)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not merely by offering a lamp, but by adorning the rite with joyful devotion—music and song—followed by humble prayer to the Lord, making the ritual both outwardly correct and inwardly heartfelt.

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

By recommending pleasing gīta (songs) and vādyas (instruments) during ārati, it highlights bhakti expressed through kīrtana-like worship; the concluding act—prayer to one’s chosen Lord—centers devotion as the purpose of the ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical ritual procedure (prayoga) within a technical-worship framework: the sequence of ārārtika → nīrājana → prayer, emphasizing correct performance and devotional accompaniment (sacred music) as part of formal pūjā.