Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

एवं शौचं विधायाथ गण्डूषान्द्वादशैव तु । कृत्वा वनस्पतिं चाथ प्रार्थयेन्मनुनामुना ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ śaucaṃ vidhāyātha gaṇḍūṣāndvādaśaiva tu | kṛtvā vanaspatiṃ cātha prārthayenmanunāmunā || 7 ||

Translation

Nachdem man so die Reinigung vollzogen hat, soll man zwölf Mundspülungen (gaṇḍūṣa) ausführen. Danach rufe man den heiligen „Vanaspati“, den Herrn der Pflanzen, an und bete mit diesem vorgeschriebenen Mantra.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• शौचम्: purification
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विधाय: having done
• विधाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्गः वि-; ‘having performed’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• गण्डूषान्: mouthfuls (for rinsing)/gargles
• गण्डूषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण्डूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Karma (कर्म/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (here) गण्डूषान् विशेषयति

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; restriction/emphasis)

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having done’

• वनस्पतिम्: the lord of the forest (tree)
• वनस्पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• प्रार्थयेत्: should request/pray
• प्रार्थयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मनुना: by Manu (i.e., with Manu’s formula)
• मनुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/साधनभावः (‘by/with the mantra of Manu’)

• अमुना: with this
• अमुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमु (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘with this’ (referring to the mantra)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vanaspati

FAQs

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

It presents shauca (ritual purity) as a necessary inner-and-outer preparation before mantra-prayer, showing that disciplined cleansing precedes effective invocation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent, rule-based worship: the devotee purifies the body, follows a counted rite (twelve gaṇḍūṣas), and then offers prayer via mantra—devotion guided by vidhi (proper procedure).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style procedural ritualism—sequencing of acts, fixed counts (twelve), and mantra-application—typical of Vedanga-oriented technical instruction.