Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

वामनश्रीधराभ्यां च मुखं हस्तौ स्पृशेत्ततः । हृषीकेशपद्मनाभाभ्यां स्पृशेच्चरणौ ततः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

vāmanaśrīdharābhyāṃ ca mukhaṃ hastau spṛśettataḥ | hṛṣīkeśapadmanābhābhyāṃ spṛśeccaraṇau tataḥ || 46 ||

Translation

Then, invoking the Lord as Vāmana and Śrīdhara, one should touch the face and the hands. Thereafter, invoking Him as Hṛṣīkeśa and Padmanābha, one should touch the feet.

Word by Word

• वामन-श्रीधराभ्याम्: with/by (the names) Vāmana and Śrīdhara
• वामन-श्रीधराभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन + श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास

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

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• हस्तौ: the two hands
• हस्तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रम (thereafter/then)

• हृषीकेश-पद्मनाभाभ्याम्: with/by (the names) Hṛṣīkeśa and Padmanābha
• हृषीकेश-पद्मनाभाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश + पद्मनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चरणौ: the two feet
• चरणौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम (thereafter)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the procedure as received in the Vaishnava ritual tradition within the Narada Purana’s Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vāmana
• Śrīdhara
• Hṛṣīkeśa
• Padmanābha

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined form of remembrance where the devotee sanctifies the body by touching specific limbs while invoking Vishnu’s names, turning physical action into focused devotion.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as embodied worship: the devotee aligns mind and senses with the Lord by pairing divine epithets (Vāmana, Śrīdhara, Hṛṣīkeśa, Padmanābha) with reverent bodily gestures.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application of mantra (prayoga) and precise sequence in worship—an applied discipline aligned with Kalpa-style procedure, where correct placement (limb-touch) and correct names are essential.