Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Description of the Index/Summary of the Garuḍa

Purāṇa

Devanagari script

छंदः शास्त्रं सदाचारस्ततः स्नानविधिः स्मृतः । तर्पणं वैश्वदेवं च संध्या पार्वणकर्म च ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

chaṃdaḥ śāstraṃ sadācārastataḥ snānavidhiḥ smṛtaḥ | tarpaṇaṃ vaiśvadevaṃ ca saṃdhyā pārvaṇakarma ca || 16 ||

Translation

Ensuite sont rappelés : la science des mètres védiques (chandas), la règle de la bonne conduite (sadācāra) ; puis les prescriptions du bain rituel ; ainsi que les rites de libation (tarpaṇa), l’offrande Vaiśvadeva, l’adoration de Sandhyā, et les observances accomplies aux jours de Parvan, aux jonctions sacrées de la lune.

Word by Word

• छन्दः: prosody/metre
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; शीर्षक-रूपेण (as a listed item)

• शास्त्रम्: treatise/scripture
• शास्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सूची-रूपेण

• सदाचारः: good conduct
• सदाचारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सतां आचारः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'thereafter/then'

• स्नानविधिः: rule/procedure of bathing
• स्नानविधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्नानस्य विधिः)

• स्मृतः: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'is remembered/declared' (passive sense)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblatory offering (tarpana)
• तर्पणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सूची-रूपेण

• वैश्वदेवम्: Vaiśvadeva rite
• वैश्वदेवम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (वैश्वदेव-यज्ञः) सूची-रूपेण

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

• सन्ध्या: twilight worship (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सन्ध्योपासनम्) सूची-रूपेण

• पार्वणकर्म: parva/fortnightly rite
• पार्वणकर्म: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वण + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पार्वणं कर्म)

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching in an enumerative/anukramanika mode)

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 frames core Vedic life-practices—right conduct, purification (snāna), and daily/periodic rites—as an integrated dharmic discipline that sustains inner purity and cosmic order.

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

By emphasizing Sandhyā and offerings like Vaiśvadeva and tarpaṇa, it points to a steady rhythm of worship and gratitude—practices that stabilize the mind and support sustained devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (the Vedāṅga of metre) is explicitly referenced, underscoring correct metrical recitation as a technical foundation for Vedic chanting and ritual performance.