Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

पञ्च कुर्यात्त्रिपुन्ड्राणि भालांसोदरहृत्सु च । शैवः शाक्तत्त्रिकोणाभं नारीवद्वा समाचरेत् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

pañca kuryāttripunḍrāṇi bhālāṃsodarahṛtsu ca | śaivaḥ śāktattrikoṇābhaṃ nārīvadvā samācaret || 58 ||

Translation

Man soll fünf Tripuṇḍra-Zeichen anbringen — auf der Stirn, auf den Schultern, am Bauch und am Herzen. Ein Śaiva oder Śākta soll ein dreieckiges Zeichen auftragen oder andernfalls der für Frauen vorgeschriebenen Praxis folgen.

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सर्वलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (त्रिपुण्ड्राणि)

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्रिपुण्ड्राणि: tripuṇḍra marks (three-lined marks)
• त्रिपुण्ड्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि पुण्ड्राणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• भाले: on the forehead
• भाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अंस: on the shoulder
• अंस: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (as member of locative plural list)

• उदर: on the belly
• उदर: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (as member of locative plural list)

• हृत्सु: on the hearts/chest regions
• हृत्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

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

• शैवः: a Śaiva (devotee of Śiva)
• शैवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• शाक्त: Śākta (of Śakti)
• शाक्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (त्रिकोणाभम्)

• त्रिकोणाभम्: a triangular form/mark
• त्रिकोणाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिकोणस्य आभम्/आभा-युक्तम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• नारीवत्: like a woman
• नारीवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक (like a woman)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्प (or)

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम् + आ

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Vedanga/ritual-technical discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti (Devi)

FAQs

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

It codifies external ritual identifiers (tripuṇḍra/tilaka) as part of dharmic discipline—marking the body as consecrated and aligned with a chosen tradition (Śaiva/Śākta).

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

By prescribing distinctive devotional insignia, it frames bhakti as expressed not only inwardly but also through visible, daily observances that reinforce identity, reverence, and regular remembrance of one’s deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical ritual procedure—where and how to apply sectarian marks—reflecting technical dharma/kalpa-style instruction (a ritual-application rule within the broader Vedāṅga-oriented material of Book 1.3).