Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

विधातारं शङ्खपद्मनिधींश्च वामदक्षयोः । द्वारपालांस्ततोऽभ्यर्चेत्तत्तत्कल्पोदितान्सुधीः ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

vidhātāraṃ śaṅkhapadmanidhīṃśca vāmadakṣayoḥ | dvārapālāṃstato'bhyarcettattatkalpoditānsudhīḥ || 81 ||

Translation

The wise practitioner should worship Vidhātā, the divine ordainer, and the treasure-deities Śaṅkha and Padma on the left and right; thereafter he should worship the gatekeepers as taught in the respective Kalpa ritual manuals.

Word by Word

• विधातारम्: Vidhata (the ordainer/creator)
• विधातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• शङ्ख-पद्म-निधीन्: the treasures Shankha and Padma
• शङ्ख-पद्म-निधीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (शङ्खनिधिः च पद्मनिधिः च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वाम-दक्षयोः: on the left and right (sides)
• वाम-दक्षयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्वसमास-समाहार), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन रूप; व्यवहारतः सप्तमी-द्विवचन (अधिकरण) ‘वामे दक्षे च’ अर्थे

• द्वार-पालान्: door-guardians
• द्वार-पालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वारस्य पालाः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• अभ्यर्चेत्: should worship
• अभ्यर्चेत्: Vidhi-kriya (विधिक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अभि-

• तत्-तत्-कल्प-उदितान्: mentioned in each respective kalpa
• तत्-तत्-कल्प-उदितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त, √उद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘उदित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √उद् ‘to arise/appear’; समासार्थ: ‘तस्मिन् तस्मिन् कल्पे उदिताः’ (locative-tatpurusha sense)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the kalpa-based ritual order in Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vidhata
• Shankha (Nidhi)
• Padma (Nidhi)
• Dvarapalas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion is strengthened by order (vidhi): honoring protective and supporting deities (nidhis and gatekeepers) as part of a complete, well-guarded sacred space before deeper worship proceeds.

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

Bhakti here is not random emotion but disciplined reverence—serving the divine through respectful, tradition-backed steps (kalpa), which cultivate steadiness, purity, and attentiveness in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (a Vedāṅga) is highlighted: the verse explicitly directs the worshipper to follow ritual manuals for correct placement and honoring of attendant deities such as Śaṅkha, Padma, and the dvārapālas.