Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

स्वशिरः सप्तधा प्रोक्ष्यावशिष्टं तत्पुनर्जलम् । कृत्वा तदक्षरं मन्त्री नासिकान्तिकमानयेत् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

svaśiraḥ saptadhā prokṣyāvaśiṣṭaṃ tatpunarjalam | kṛtvā tadakṣaraṃ mantrī nāsikāntikamānayet || 63 ||

Translation

Nachdem er seinen eigenen Kopf siebenmal besprengt hat, soll der Mantra-Praktizierende das verbleibende Wasser erneut nehmen. Nachdem er jene Silbe (akṣara) gebildet und belebt hat, soll er sie nahe an das Nasenloch bringen.

Word by Word

• स्व: one’s own
• स्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्/सर्वनाम-विशेषण; here used as possessive ‘own’ (qualifies शिरः)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• सप्तधा: seven times/sevenfold
• सप्तधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सप्तधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb): ‘sevenfold’

• प्रोक्ष्य: having sprinkled
• प्रोक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having sprinkled’

• अवशिष्टम्: remaining
• अवशिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवशिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अव + शिष् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies जलम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘that’ (refers to remaining water)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb): ‘again/back’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having made/done’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘that’ (refers to water)

• अक्षरम्: (as) a syllable/akṣara (mantra-form)
• अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘syllable/imperishable (mantra-syllable)’

• मन्त्री: the mantra-reciter
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• नासिकान्तिकम्: near the nose
• नासिकान्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नासिकायाः अन्तिकम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• आनयेत्: should bring/lead
• आनयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It describes a purification-and-activation step: sevenfold sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) sanctifies the practitioner, and the remaining consecrated water is used alongside an empowered syllable (akṣara) to focus subtle practice near the breath-channel.

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

Though technical in form, it supports bhakti by prescribing disciplined bodily and vocal-sacred practice—purity, reverent handling of sanctified water, and attentive use of sacred sound—so devotion becomes steady and embodied.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/pronunciation) and mantra-vidhi are implied: the ‘akṣara’ must be correctly formed/empowered, and the instruction to bring it near the nostril points to breath-linked recitation or nyāsa-like application used in precise ritual technique.