Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठया नाभिदेशं सर्वत्राङ्गुष्ठयोजनम् । आत्मविद्याशिवैस्तत्त्वैस्वाहान्तैः शैवमीरितम् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhayā nābhideśaṃ sarvatrāṅguṣṭhayojanam | ātmavidyāśivaistattvaisvāhāntaiḥ śaivamīritam || 51 ||

Translation

Mit dem kleinen Finger (kaniṣṭhā) berühre man die Nabelgegend und zeichne überall, gemessen nach der Breite eines Daumens; beim Nyāsa setze man die śivaitischen Tattvas, beginnend mit „Ātma-vidyā“ und endend mit der Mantraformel „svāhā“. So wird das śivaitische Verfahren gelehrt.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठया: with the little finger
• कनिष्ठया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाभि-देशम्: the navel-region
• नाभि-देशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नाभेः देशम्)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अङ्गुष्ठ-योजनम्: a thumb’s measure (placement)
• अङ्गुष्ठ-योजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अङ्गुष्ठेन योजनम् = thumb-measure)

• आत्म-विद्या-शिवैः: with (the mantras) Ātma, Vidyā, and Śiva
• आत्म-विद्या-शिवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (आत्मविद्याशिवैः = with (the mantras) ‘Ātma’, ‘Vidyā’, ‘Śiva’)

• तत्त्वैः: with the principles/tattvas
• तत्त्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वाहा-अन्तैः: ending with ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहा-अन्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (स्वाहा अन्तं येषाम्)

• शैवम्: the Śaiva (ācamana/rite)
• शैवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईरितम्: is declared/said
• ईरितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It describes a disciplined inner-ritual (nyāsa) where Śaiva principles (tattvas) are ritually “installed” in the body, using precise touch and measurement, making the practitioner’s body a consecrated field for mantra and realization.

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

Here devotion is expressed as embodied reverence—careful mantra-placement and remembrance of Śiva’s principles—showing bhakti not only as emotion but as a precise sādhana aligning body, speech, and mind with the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual procedure—measured placement (aṅguṣṭha-pramāṇa) and mantra-formulas like “svāhā”—reflecting the applied, methodical side of Vedic practice (kalpa-style ritual precision).