Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

ततश्च पञ्चभिः पादौ प्रक्षाल्यान्तर्जले पुनः । प्रविश्य नाभिमात्रे तु मृदं वामकरस्य च ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tataśca pañcabhiḥ pādau prakṣālyāntarjale punaḥ | praviśya nābhimātre tu mṛdaṃ vāmakarasya ca || 17 ||

Translation

Luego, lavando los pies con cinco puñados de agua, debe entrar de nuevo en el agua. De pie con el agua hasta el ombligo, debe tomar también un terrón de arcilla con la mano izquierda.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Temporal marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of sequence)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पञ्चभिः: with five (times/handfuls)
• पञ्चभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/means: ‘with five (scoops/times)’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having washed’

• अन्तर्जले: in the water (within the water)
• अन्तर्जले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः-जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (अन्तः + जल), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: repetition)

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having entered’

• नाभिमात्रे: up to the navel (navel-deep)
• नाभिमात्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Extent-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नाभेः मात्रम् = ‘navel-measure’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• मृदम्: clay
• मृदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वामकरस्य: of the left hand
• वामकरस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (वामः करः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) as a prerequisite for sacred acts—washing, re-entering the water, and taking purificatory clay are outer disciplines meant to steady the mind and prepare the practitioner for Vedic rites.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing bodily and mental preparation; clean, disciplined worship is presented as a way to make one’s offerings and remembrance of the Divine more focused and reverent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual knowledge—prāyaścitta/śauca-oriented snāna details (counts like “five,” posture/level like “navel-deep,” and use of mṛd/clay), typical of technical instruction associated with Vedāṅga-style praxis.