Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

मणिबन्धे हस्ततले तदग्रे च तथा पुनः । कृत्वाङ्गुल्या गाङ्गमृदमादायास्त्रेण तत्पुनः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

maṇibandhe hastatale tadagre ca tathā punaḥ | kṛtvāṅgulyā gāṅgamṛdamādāyāstreṇa tatpunaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Am Handgelenk, auf der Handfläche und nochmals an deren Vorderseite soll man mit dem Finger die heilige Ganga-Erde (Ganga-mṛd) aufnehmen und sie erneut auftragen, begleitet vom Astra-mantra.

Word by Word

• मणिबन्धे: on the wrist
• मणिबन्धे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणिबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हस्ततले: on the palm
• हस्ततले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त-तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हस्तस्य तलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदग्रे: at its tip/front (thereafter)
• तदग्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य अग्रे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: repetition)

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

• अङ्गुल्या: with the finger
• अङ्गुल्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गाङ्गमृदम्: Ganges-clay
• गाङ्गमृदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्ग-मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गङ्गायाः मृद्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine; मृद्), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having taken’

• अस्त्रेण: with the Astra-mantra
• अस्त्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); here ‘अस्त्र’ = अस्त्रमन्त्र (weapon-mantra)

• तत्: that (again/that act)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: repetition)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise purification and protection practice: applying Gaṅgā’s sacred clay on specific parts of the hand while invoking a protective (Astra) mantra, blending tīrtha-purity with mantra-śakti.

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

By prescribing careful bodily sanctification before worship, it supports bhakti through disciplined preparation—purifying the instruments of action (hands) so offerings and japa are performed in a sacred, protected state.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (applied use of mantras) and ritual procedure—where to apply sacred substances and how to pair the act with a protective mantra—reflecting the technical, rule-based side of Vedic practice emphasized in Book 1.3.