Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

त्रिवृद्गायत्रिकाछन्दो देवः शक्तिगणेश्वरः । षड्दीर्घाढ्येन बीजेन कृत्वाङ्गानि ततः स्मरेत् ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

trivṛdgāyatrikāchando devaḥ śaktigaṇeśvaraḥ | ṣaḍdīrghāḍhyena bījena kṛtvāṅgāni tataḥ smaret || 138 ||

Translation

Son mètre est la Trivṛt-Gāyatrī; sa divinité présidente est Śakti Gaṇeśvara. Après avoir accompli l’aṅga-nyāsa avec le bīja-mantra pourvu de six voyelles longues, qu’on médite ensuite sur (cette divinité/ce mantra).

Word by Word

• त्रिवृत्-गायत्रिका-छन्दः: the Trivṛt-Gāyatrikā metre
• त्रिवृत्-गायत्रिका-छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गायत्रिका (प्रातिपदिक) + छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘त्रिवृत्-गायत्रिकायाः छन्दः’ (name of a metre)

• देवः: the deity
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शक्ति-गणेश्वरः: Śakti-Gaṇeśvara
• शक्ति-गणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + गणेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शक्तेः गणेश्वरः’ (lord connected with Śakti)

• षट्-दीर्घ-आढ्येन: with (a) six-long(-vowel)-rich
• षट्-दीर्घ-आढ्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘षड्भिः दीर्घैः आढ्यः’ = six long vowels-rich (instrumental agreeing with बीजेन)

• बीजेन: by/with the seed-syllable (bīja)
• बीजेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having done/made’

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे ‘thereafter/then’

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Gāyatrī (Chandas)
• Śakti
• Gaṇeśvara (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

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

It defines the mantra’s technical identity—metre (chandas), deity (devatā), and bīja—and teaches that correct nyāsa followed by remembrance (smaraṇa) is the proper way to internalize the mantra’s power.

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

Even within a technical ritual context, the culmination is “smaret”—devotional recollection/meditation on the deity—showing that ritual precision is meant to lead into steady God-remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga Chandas (metre identification) and practical mantra-śāstra procedure—devatā assignment, bīja usage, and aṅga-nyāsa as part of disciplined ritual application.