Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अनन्तादित्यसङ्काशं निजभूषायुधैर्युतम् । मन्त्रमूर्तिं प्रभुं स्मृत्वा तत्पादोदकसंभवाम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

anantādityasaṅkāśaṃ nijabhūṣāyudhairyutam | mantramūrtiṃ prabhuṃ smṛtvā tatpādodakasaṃbhavām || 21 ||

Translation

Remembering the Lord—whose radiance is like the boundless sun, adorned with His own ornaments and weapons, and who is the very embodiment of mantra—one should then take up the sacred water/substance that has arisen from the water that washed His feet.

Word by Word

• अनन्तादित्यसङ्काशम्: resembling the endless sun
• अनन्तादित्यसङ्काशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + आदित्य + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (अनन्तादित्यवत् सङ्काशः)

• निजभूषायुधैः: with (his) own ornaments and weapons
• निजभूषायुधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + भूषा + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (भूषा च आयुधानि च) विशेषणार्थे साधनत्वेन

• युतम्: endowed, furnished
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (युक्तम्)

• मन्त्रमूर्तिम्: the mantra-embodied form
• मन्त्रमूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य मूर्तिः)

• प्रभुम्: the Lord, master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having remembered/meditated upon)

• तत्: of that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; समासपूर्वपद

• पादोदकसंभवाम्: arisen from the water of his feet
• पादोदकसंभवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + उदक + सम्भवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (पादस्य उदकात् सम्भवा)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context, teaching received from the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (the Lord as Mantramurti)
• Surya (as a simile: Aditya)

FAQs

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

It links inner remembrance (smaraṇa) of the mantra-embodied Lord with outer ritual purity, teaching that sacred acts become effective when grounded in devotion and mantra-consciousness.

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

Bhakti is expressed as meditative remembrance of the Lord’s divine form and qualities; the ritual element (pādodaka) is presented as meaningful only after sincere smṛti of the Prabhu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure and mantra-priority—an applied, technical approach to worship where correct remembrance/recitation (mantra) precedes the use of consecrated water in purification rites.