Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

रक्षः कोणे ततो ग्रामाद्गत्वा मन्त्रमुदीरयेत् । गच्छन्तु ऋषयो देवाः पिशाचा ये च गुह्यकाः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

rakṣaḥ koṇe tato grāmādgatvā mantramudīrayet | gacchantu ṛṣayo devāḥ piśācā ye ca guhyakāḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Luego, saliendo de la aldea hacia el cuadrante asociado a los rākṣasas, debe recitarse el mantra: «Que se retiren los sabios ṛṣis y los dioses; y que se retiren también los piśācas y los llamados guhyakas».

Word by Word

• रक्षः: of the demon(s) / of Rākṣasa
• रक्षः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Neuter, Genitive, Singular)

• कोणे: in the corner
• कोणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• ग्रामात्: from the village
• ग्रामात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having gone’

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• उदीरयेत्: should recite/utter
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, 3rd sg); उपसर्ग: उद्-; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative in sense): ‘should utter/recite’

• गच्छन्तु: let (them) depart
• गच्छन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd pl): ‘let them go’

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• पिशाचाः: piśācas (ghouls)
• पिशाचाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

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

• गुह्यकाः: guhyakas (yakṣa-attendants)
• गुह्यकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction mode, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rishis
• Devas
• Pisachas
• Guhyakas

FAQs

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

It presents a practical protective rite: by moving to a designated direction and reciting a command-mantra, one ritually clears the space of obstructive or unsuitable presences, reaffirming order (ṛta) and ritual purity.

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

Indirectly: it supports devotional life by removing disturbances that hinder worship and sacred observances, ensuring a clean, focused environment for mantra-japa and deity-oriented practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Directional/ritual protocol and mantra-application—technical procedure (prayoga) aligned with auxiliary disciplines used in rites (e.g., correct placement, recitation, and protective intent).