Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

बालसूक्ष्मे बृषघ्नस्तु सन्ध्यायुक्प्रज्ञया वृषः । हंसःप्रभासमायुक्तो वराहो निशया युतः ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

bālasūkṣme bṛṣaghnastu sandhyāyukprajñayā vṛṣaḥ | haṃsaḥprabhāsamāyukto varāho niśayā yutaḥ || 97 ||

Translation

Im Zustand von Kindheit und Feinheit ist Er Bṛṣaghna; mit der Dämmerung (sandhyā) und erwachter Einsicht verbunden ist Er Vṛṣa. Der Haṃsa ist mit strahlender Leuchtkraft (prabhāsā) verbunden, während der Varāha mit der Nacht (niśā) vereint ist.

Word by Word

• बाल-सूक्ष्मे: O childlike and subtle one
• बाल-सूक्ष्मे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘बालश्च सूक्ष्मश्च’/‘बालवत् सूक्ष्मः’ स्तुत्यर्थक सम्बोधन

• वृष-घ्नः: slayer of Vṛṣa
• वृष-घ्नः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु) → घ्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘वृषं हन्ति’ (slayer of Vṛṣa/bull/dharma)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषण/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• सन्ध्या-युक्: associated with Sandhyā
• सन्ध्या-युक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + युज् (धातु) → युक् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सन्ध्यया युक्तः इति

• प्रज्ञया: with wisdom
• प्रज्ञया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• वृषः: Vṛṣa (bull/dharma)
• वृषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हंसः: Haṃsa
• हंसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रभास-सम-युक्तः: well-endowed, equal to radiance
• प्रभास-सम-युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभास (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रभासा समः’ (like radiance) इति कर्मधारय-भावः + ‘युक्तः’ इति तत्पुरुष-समाससम्बन्धः; समायुक्तः = समं युक्तः/सम्यक् युक्तः (well-endowed)

• वराहः: Varāha
• वराहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निशया: with night
• निशया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• युतः: associated
• युतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bṛṣaghna
• Vṛṣa
• Haṃsa
• Varāha

FAQs

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

It teaches a Vedanga-style mapping: divine names/forms are contemplated through correspondences with stages (bāla/sūkṣma) and times (sandhyā/niśā), so the practitioner learns to meditate on sacred qualities through precise temporal and symbolic associations.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as disciplined remembrance (smaraṇa) using fixed cues—twilight, night, radiance, subtle states—so devotion becomes steady through regulated contemplation rather than merely emotional impulse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Shiksha-type ritual timing and symbolic assignment: sandhyā (junction-time) and niśā (night) are treated as meaningful ritual contexts for invoking particular divine epithets/forms.