Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

एवं ध्यात्वा न्यसेत्स्वीयबीजपूर्वाक्षरान्वितम् । निवृत्तिश्च प्रतिष्ठा च विद्या शान्तिस्तथेधिका ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ dhyātvā nyasetsvīyabījapūrvākṣarānvitam | nivṛttiśca pratiṣṭhā ca vidyā śāntistathedhikā || 140 ||

Translation

Habiendo meditado así, debe hacerse el nyāsa, colocando (el mantra) unido al propio bīja y a las sílabas precedentes. De ello nacen el retraimiento de las tendencias mundanas, el firme asentamiento, el conocimiento verdadero, la paz y un mayor crecimiento espiritual.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्या (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘ध्यानं कृत्वा’

• न्यसेत्: should place/should perform nyāsa
• न्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु; न्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वीयबीजपूर्वाक्षरान्वितम्: endowed with one’s own seed-mantra and preceding syllables
• स्वीयबीजपूर्वाक्षरान्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वीय-बीज-पूर्व-अक्षर-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; स्वीय + बीज + पूर्व + अक्षर + अन्वित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषप्रधान): ‘स्वीयेन बीजेन पूर्वैः अक्षरैः च अन्वितम्’

• निवृत्तिः: Nivṛtti (a śakti/name)
• निवृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/उद्देश्य), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• प्रतिष्ठा: Pratiṣṭhā
• प्रतिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• विद्या: Vidyā
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शान्तिः: Śānti
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• एधिका: Edhikā (a śakti/name)
• एधिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/ritual-technical discourse)

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 teaches that mantra-practice is not only recitation but a meditative “installation” (nyāsa) of sacred sound, which yields inner withdrawal (nivṛtti), stability (pratiṣṭhā), knowledge (vidyā), and peace (śānti).

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

By emphasizing dhyāna and nyāsa, it frames devotion as disciplined internalization of the deity’s mantra—devotional practice becomes embodied and transformative, producing calmness and steady devotion rather than mere external ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-vidhi and ritual application—how specific phonemes (akṣaras) and bīja-syllables are arranged and placed through nyāsa, a technical practice aligned with śikṣā (phonetics) and kalpa (ritual procedure).