Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

उद्यदादित्यसंकाशां पुस्तकाक्षकरांबुजाम् । कृष्णाजिनाम्बरां ब्राह्मीं ध्यायेत्ताराङिकतेऽम्बरे ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

udyadādityasaṃkāśāṃ pustakākṣakarāṃbujām | kṛṣṇājināmbarāṃ brāhmīṃ dhyāyettārāṅikate'mbare || 70 ||

Translation

Man soll über Brāhmī, die Göttin des heiligen Wissens, meditieren: strahlend wie die aufgehende Sonne, mit lotosgleichen Händen, die Buch und Rosenkranz halten; in ein Gewand aus schwarzer Antilopenhaut gekleidet und im sterngezeichneten Himmel sitzend.

Word by Word

• उद्यदादित्यसंकाशाम्: having the radiance of the rising sun
• उद्यदादित्यसंकाशाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्यत्-आदित्य-संकाश (प्रातिपदिक; उद्यत् + आदित्य + संकाश)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine, Accusative singular)

• पुस्तकाक्षकराम्बुजाम्: whose lotus-hands hold a book and rosary
• पुस्तकाक्षकराम्बुजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुस्तक-अक्ष-कर-अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक; पुस्तक + अक्ष + कर + अम्बुज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-समास, ‘कराम्बुज’ = lotus-like hands; विशेषण (feminine, Accusative singular)

• कृष्णाजिनाम्बराम्: clad in a black antelope-skin garment
• कृष्णाजिनाम्बराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण-अजिन-अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक; कृष्ण + अजिन + अम्बर)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine, Accusative singular)

• ब्राह्मीम्: Brāhmī (the goddess)
• ब्राह्मीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; देवीनाम (feminine, Accusative singular; name/title)

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate on
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (should meditate)

• ताराङ्किते: marked with stars
• ताराङ्किते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारा-अङ्कित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अम्बरे’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (neuter, Locative singular; qualifying ‘sky/space’)

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (neuter, Locative singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga/Upasana context, traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmi

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused dhyāna on Brāhmī—the embodiment of sacred learning—using clear iconographic markers (book and rosary) to stabilize the mind and align the practitioner with jñāna and mantra-sādhana.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverential contemplation: by visualizing the deity of knowledge with devotion and steadiness, the aspirant cultivates purity of mind that supports scriptural study and higher devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects upāsanā as a technical aid to learning: the pustaka points to śāstra-study (linked to Vyākaraṇa and other Vedāṅgas), while the akṣa-mālā indicates japa discipline used alongside mantra and ritual procedure.