Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अर्द्धेन्दुशेखरं त्र्यक्षं देववन्द्यं विचिन्तयेत् । ध्यात्वैवं शिवशक्तीश्च चतुर्थी हृदयान्तिमे ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

arddhenduśekharaṃ tryakṣaṃ devavandyaṃ vicintayet | dhyātvaivaṃ śivaśaktīśca caturthī hṛdayāntime || 123 ||

Translation

Qu’on contemple Śiva, portant le croissant de lune pour diadème, aux trois yeux, vénéré par les dieux. Après avoir ainsi médité Śiva avec Śakti, qu’on place/énonce la quatrième partie à l’extrémité du cœur (dans le lotus du cœur, comme placement final).

Word by Word

• अर्द्ध-इन्दु-शेखरम्: with a half-moon crest
• अर्द्ध-इन्दु-शेखरम्: Karma (कर्म) / Object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय: ‘अर्द्धेन्दुः शेखरः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रि-अक्षम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-अक्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्विगु (‘त्रीणि अक्षाणि यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देव-वन्द्यम्: worshipped by the gods
• देव-वन्द्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्द्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त ‘to be worshipped’)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘देवैः वन्द्यः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विचिन्तयेत्: one should contemplate/visualize
• विचिन्तयेत्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्या (धातु) → ध्यात्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा-प्रत्यय, absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• शिव-शक्तीः: Śiva and the Śaktis (powers)
• शिव-शक्तीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर: शिवश्च शक्तिश्च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

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

• चतुर्थी: the fourth (caturthī)
• चतुर्थी: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (छन्दो/न्यास-प्रसङ्गे) ‘fourth (case/part)’ as technical term

• हृदय-अन्तिमे: in the final (part) of the heart
• हृदय-अन्तिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हृदयस्य अन्तिमे’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative qualifier)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical-ritual/meditative procedure context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused visualization of Śiva—crescent-crested and three-eyed—together with Śakti, emphasizing integrated contemplation (dhyāna) and inner placement in the heart as the culmination of practice.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of reverential meditation: the devotee remembers Śiva as ‘devavandya’ (praised by the gods) and internalizes that worship by installing the meditation/mantra in the heart, making devotion inward and constant.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical method—mantra structure and nyāsa-style placement (especially hṛdaya, the heart-center)—a procedural discipline aligned with the Purana’s technical/vidhi-oriented sections.