Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रपालं तथा वामे दक्षे गङ्गां प्रपूजयेत् । वामे च यमुनां दक्षे धातारं वामतस्तथा ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

kṣetrapālaṃ tathā vāme dakṣe gaṅgāṃ prapūjayet | vāme ca yamunāṃ dakṣe dhātāraṃ vāmatastathā || 80 ||

Translation

Man verehre Kṣetrapāla zur Linken und Gaṅgā zur Rechten; ebenso Yamunā zur Linken und Dhātā zur Rechten, gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Anordnung.

Word by Word

• क्षेत्र-पालम्: Kshetrapala (guardian of the place)
• क्षेत्र-पालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षेत्रस्य पालः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• वामे: on the left (side)
• वामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वामम्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• दक्षे: on the right (side)
• दक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दक्षम्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• गङ्गाम्: Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship
• प्रपूजयेत्: Vidhi-kriya (विधिक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• वामे: on the left
• वामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

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

• यमुनाम्: Yamuna
• यमुनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दक्षे: on the right
• दक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• धातारम्: Dhata (the creator/sustainer deity)
• धातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वामतः: to/from the left side
• वामतः: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिक्/देशवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from/on the left side)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers, giving procedural/ritual placement instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla
• Gaṅgā
• Yamunā
• Dhātā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship is not only devotional but also orderly: correct directional placement (left/right) honors cosmic and ritual harmony, making the puja disciplined and effective.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful service (sevā) and reverent procedure—devotion becomes tangible by honoring each deity with proper placement and due worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical discipline—an applied, Vedanga-like concern for correct arrangement and procedure (vidhi) in worship, akin to precise rules used in ceremonial practice.