Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

एका लिङ्गे गुदे तिस्रो दश वामकरे मृदः । करयोः सप्त वै दद्यात्त्रित्रिवारं च पादयोः ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

ekā liṅge gude tisro daśa vāmakare mṛdaḥ | karayoḥ sapta vai dadyāttritrivāraṃ ca pādayoḥ || 6 ||

Translation

Of cleansing earth: one application for the genital organ; three for the anus; ten for the left hand. For both hands one should apply seven, and for the feet three-and-three times.

Word by Word

• एका: one
• एका: Karma (कर्म/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (agreeing with implied mṛdā/lepā)

• लिङ्गे: on the genital
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; देशाधिकरणम्

• गुदे: on the anus
• गुदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; देशाधिकरणम्

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Karma (कर्म/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma (कर्म/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (here) प्रथमा/द्वितीया, नपुंसक-एकवचनवत् प्रयोगः; संख्याविशेषणम्

• वामकरे: on the left hand
• वामकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-कर (प्रातिपदिक; वाम + कर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वामः करः)

• मृदः: clods of earth (for cleansing)
• मृदः: Karma (कर्म/गणनीय-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘clods of earth’ (counted)

• करयोः: of (both) hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of the two hands’

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karma (कर्म/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (here) द्वितीया/प्रथमा-नपुंसक-एकवचनवत्; संख्याविशेषणम् (mṛdaḥ understood)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• दद्यात्: should give/apply
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• त्रित्रिवारम्: thrice thrice (nine times)
• त्रित्रिवारम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि-त्रि-वार (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + त्रि + वार)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial: ‘three times thrice’ = nine times)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पादयोः: on the two feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative) वा षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; अत्र ‘पादयोः’ = ‘on the two feet’ (सप्तमी)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on ritual/technical dharma procedures)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It codifies śauca (ritual purity) through mṛd-śauca—using measured applications of cleansing earth—so the body becomes fit for worship, japa, and other sacred acts.

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

By insisting on external cleanliness before sacred practice, it supports bhakti as disciplined worship—purity of conduct and readiness for devotional rites, even though the verse itself is procedural rather than emotional devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical dharma-śāstra style rule of ritual hygiene (śauca) detailing specific counts for cleansing with earth, reflecting practical ritual science aligned with Vedic observance.