Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

ततो देवानृषींश्चैव पितॄश्चापि विधानवित् । तर्पयित्वा स्वेष्टदेवं तर्पयेत्कल्पमार्गतः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

tato devānṛṣīṃścaiva pitṝścāpi vidhānavit | tarpayitvā sveṣṭadevaṃ tarpayetkalpamārgataḥ || 74 ||

Translation

Daraufhin soll der Kundige der rechten Ritualordnung den Göttern, den ṛṣi und den Ahnen tarpaṇa (Wasserlibation) darbringen; und nachdem dies geschehen ist, soll er gemäß dem im Kalpa überlieferten Ritualpfad seine eigene erwählte Gottheit (iṣṭa-devatā) ehren und zufriedenstellen.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence: 'thereafter'

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ṛṣīn: the sages
• ṛṣīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), emphasis (अवधारण)

• pitṝn: the ancestors (manes)
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), additive 'also'

• vidhāna-vit: the knower of the prescribed procedure
• vidhāna-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna + vid (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: vidhāna-vit = 'knower of procedure' (विधानं वेत्ति इति)

• tarpayitvā: having satisfied
• tarpayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṛp (तृप् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having satisfied/propitiated'

• sva-iṣṭa-devam: one's chosen deity
• sva-iṣṭa-devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + iṣṭa + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: sva-iṣṭa-deva = 'one's chosen deity' (स्वस्य इष्टः देवः)

• tarpayet: should satisfy/propitiate
• tarpayet: Vidhi-kriyā (विधेयक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṛp (तृप् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kalpa-mārgataḥ: according to the prescribed ritual method
• kalpa-mārgataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kalpa + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे क्रियाविशेषणवत्): 'according to the path/method of the kalpa'; compound: kalpa-mārga

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a procedural/kalpa-oriented context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis
• Pitrs
• Ishta-Devata

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual life is supported by right order and gratitude: honoring devas, ṛṣis, and pitṛs through tarpana, and then worshiping one’s iṣṭa-devatā according to Kalpa—uniting devotion with disciplined ritual.

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

Bhakti is shown as structured reverence: after completing the customary offerings to cosmic and ancestral supports of dharma, the devotee turns to personal worship of the chosen deity, keeping devotion aligned with scriptural method (kalpa-mārga).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-Vedāṅga (ritual science) is emphasized—especially the correct sequencing and method of tarpana and deity-worship as governed by procedural prescriptions.