Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः श्वासानुसारेण दत्वा पादं महीतले । समुद्र मेखले देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले 1. ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ śvāsānusāreṇa datvā pādaṃ mahītale | samudra mekhale devi parvatastanamaṇḍale 1. || 1 ||

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Then, keeping time with the rhythm of the breath, placing the feet upon the ground—O Goddess—one should meditate upon the Earth, girdled by the oceans and adorned with mountains like breasts.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); नाम; तत्पुरुष: सनत्+कुमार

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (thereafter)

• श्वास: breath
• श्वास: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• अनुसारेण: in accordance (with)
• अनुसारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• श्वासानुसारेण: according to the breath
• श्वासानुसारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: श्वासस्य अनुसारः

• दत्वा: having placed
• दत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having given/placed’

• पादम्: foot
• पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मह्याः तलम्

• समुद्र: ocean
• समुद्र: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• मेखले: in the girdle/belt
• मेखले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Feminine, Locative, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• समुद्रमेखले: ocean-girdled
• समुद्रमेखले: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Feminine, Locative, Singular); कर्मधारय: समुद्रः मेखला यस्याः/या (ocean-girdled)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Feminine, Vocative, Singular)

• पर्वत: mountain
• पर्वत: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• स्तन: breast
• स्तन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• मण्डले: in the region/orb
• मण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular); समासाङ्ग

• पर्वतस्तनमण्डले: in the region of mountain-like breasts
• पर्वतस्तनमण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular) as a locative descriptor; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पर्वतानां स्तनानां मण्डले (in the region of mountain-breasts)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Devi (Goddess/Earth as Devī)

FAQs

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

It links breath-discipline (śvāsa-anusāra) with sacred visualization: by synchronizing awareness with the breath and grounding the body, the practitioner contemplates the Earth as Devī—an ordered, divine support for sādhanā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent perception: the world is not seen as inert matter but as Devī’s form—Earth girdled by oceans and adorned with mountains—turning meditation into an act of worshipful remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical yogic method is implied: regulating attention according to the breath (a prāṇāyāma-aligned discipline) and using structured visualization—skills often taught alongside technical traditions of recitation and disciplined practice in Vedanga-oriented sections.