Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

पीता श्वेतारुणा पश्चादसितानन्तया युता । उक्ता कलामातृकैवं तत्तद्भक्तः समाचरेत् ॥ १४५ ॥

Transliteration

pītā śvetāruṇā paścādasitānantayā yutā | uktā kalāmātṛkaivaṃ tattadbhaktaḥ samācaret || 145 ||

Translation

D’abord elle est jaune, puis blanche et rougeâtre; ensuite elle s’unit à l’obscur (noir) et à l’Infini, Ananta. Ainsi la Kalā-mātṛkā a été décrite; le dévot de ce principe/de cette divinité doit pratiquer en conséquence.

Word by Word

• पीता: yellow
• पीता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• श्वेतारुणा: white and reddish
• श्वेतारुणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (श्वेतश्च अरुणश्च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• असिता: black/dark
• असिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• अनन्तया: with the infinite
• अनन्तया: Sahakāraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/सह (instr. sg. ‘with infinite(ness)’)

• युता: endowed/joined
• युता: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘युक्ता’ (fem. nom. sg. ‘joined/endowed’)

• उक्ता: said/declared
• उक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (fem. nom. sg. ‘said’)

• कलामातृका: the ‘mother’ of the kalās (letters/parts)
• कलामातृका: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक) + मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: कलानां मातृका); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• तत्-तत्-भक्तः: the respective devotee
• तत्-तत्-भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य तस्य भक्तः ‘devotee of each/that respective’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• समाचरेत्: should practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg. ‘should practice/perform’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/technical teaching stream)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta

FAQs

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

It frames the kalā-mātṛkā (a structured contemplative/phonemic scheme) as progressing through symbolic color-states and culminating in association with “Ananta,” indicating meditation on an ever-expanding, unbounded principle rather than mere recitation.

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

Bhakti here is shown as disciplined practice: the devotee follows the described sequence “accordingly” (samācaret), meaning devotion is expressed through faithful, methodical observance of the prescribed mantra/kalā contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, Vedanga-adjacent approach to sacred sound—mātṛkā/varṇa-based practice used in mantra application—where phonemic order and prescribed contemplations guide correct ritual and meditative performance.