Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5
The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances
Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi
दक्षिणाभिमुखं रात्रौ दिवा स्थित्वा ह्युदङ्मुखः । मलं विसृज्य शौचं तु मृदाद्भिः समुपाचरेत् ॥ ५ ॥
dakṣiṇābhimukhaṃ rātrau divā sthitvā hyudaṅmukhaḥ | malaṃ visṛjya śaucaṃ tu mṛdādbhiḥ samupācaret || 5 ||
Nachts soll man nach Süden gewandt sein, am Tage aber stehend nach Norden. Nach dem Stuhlgang ist die Reinigung (śauca) ordnungsgemäß mit Erde (Lehm) und Wasser zu vollziehen.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Vedāṅga-style ritual guidance)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It frames bodily cleanliness (śauca) as a dhārmic discipline: removing physical impurity with proper method and mindfulness supports ritual fitness and inner purity.
While not directly teaching bhakti, it provides the purity foundation traditionally required for worship and mantra-japa—cleanliness and correct conduct prepare the devotee for devotional practice.
It highlights technical dharma-śāstra style procedure (prayoga): directional etiquette by time (day/night) and the prescribed materials (earth and water) for post-evacuation purification.