Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

मन्त्रस्नानं ततः कुर्यात्तद्विधानमथोच्यते । देशकालौ च सङ्कीर्त्य प्राणायामषडङ्गकैः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

mantrasnānaṃ tataḥ kuryāttadvidhānamathocyate | deśakālau ca saṅkīrtya prāṇāyāmaṣaḍaṅgakaiḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Thereafter one should perform the “mantra-bath” (mantra-snāna). Now its rite is taught: having duly proclaimed the place and the time, one should practice prāṇāyāma together with the six auxiliary limbs (ṣaḍ-aṅga).

Word by Word

• मन्त्रस्नानम्: mantra-bath (ritual bathing with mantras)
• मन्त्रस्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य स्नानम्)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (temporal/sequence adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (refers to the said act)

• विधानम्: procedure/rule
• विधानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• उच्यते: is stated/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• देशकालौ: place and time
• देशकालौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (देशश्च कालश्च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• सङ्कीर्त्य: having recited/mentioned
• सङ्कीर्त्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having mentioned)

• प्राणायामषडङ्गकैः: with the six-limbed (methods) of prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायामषडङ्गकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम + षड् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणायामस्य षडङ्गकानि)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context, within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames purification as both internal and external: a mantra-infused bath is paired with disciplined breath (prāṇāyāma) and correct ritual framing (declaring place and time), aligning the practitioner with sacred order (dharma).

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by emphasizing purity and attentiveness before sacred acts—devotional practice becomes more effective when preceded by mantra-based cleansing and mindful prāṇāyāma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual protocol—formally stating deśa (location) and kāla (time) and using structured prāṇāyāma with ṣaḍ-aṅga preparation—reflecting applied Vedic discipline and procedural exactness.