Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

कामदेवपदं ङेन्तं तथा सर्वजनप्रियम् । हृदन्तः कामबीजाढ्यं दन्तांश्चानेन शोधयेत् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

kāmadevapadaṃ ṅentaṃ tathā sarvajanapriyam | hṛdantaḥ kāmabījāḍhyaṃ dantāṃścānena śodhayet || 10 ||

Translation

Qu’on emploie la syllabe (pada) liée à Kāmadeva, se terminant par la nasale « ṅ », chère à tous. Se concluant par le son du cœur (hṛd-anta) et emplie du kāma-bīja, par elle on purifiera aussi les lettres dentales (dantya).

Word by Word

• kāmadeva-padam: the word ‘Kāmadeva’
• kāmadeva-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmadeva + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘the word/name “Kāmadeva”’

• ṅe-antam: ending in ‘ṅe’
• ṅe-antam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṅe (प्रत्याहार/प्रत्यय-सूचक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); grammatical descriptor: ‘ending with ṅe’ (ङेन्त = ङे-अन्त)

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), conjunction/adverb

• sarva-jana-priyam: beloved of all people
• sarva-jana-priyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + jana + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying (kāmadeva-padam); ‘dear to all people’

• hṛt-antah: within the heart
• hṛt-antah: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘inside the heart’ (as a locative-sense compound used adverbially)

• kāma-bīja-āḍhyam: endowed with the Kāma seed-syllable
• kāma-bīja-āḍhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + bīja + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective (of the mantra/word): ‘rich with the Kāma seed-syllable’

• dantān: teeth
• dantān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• anena: with this (mantra/word)
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun ‘with this’

• śodhayet: should cleanse
• śodhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śudh/śodh (धातु; causative)
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त) of √śudh/śudh ‘to purify’; Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; ‘should cleanse’

Speaker

Narada (in a technical Vedanga/phonetics instruction stream, traditionally conveyed to/within the Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-power depends on śabda-śuddhi (purity of sound): correct phonetic formation and seed-syllable usage are presented as a means to refine speech so recitation becomes ritually and spiritually effective.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti practice indirectly: precise pronunciation and disciplined mantra-recitation are treated as foundational supports for focused worship and steadiness of mind in devotional japa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Śikṣā (phonetics): it points to classification of sounds (like dantya—dentals) and a method of ‘śodhana’ (phonetic purification) through specific syllabic endings and bija-based articulation.