Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

कलायुङ्मातृकायास्तु मुनिः प्रोक्तः प्रजापतिः । गायत्रीछन्द आख्यातं देवता शारदाभिधा ॥ १४६ ॥

Transliteration

kalāyuṅmātṛkāyāstu muniḥ proktaḥ prajāpatiḥ | gāyatrīchanda ākhyātaṃ devatā śāradābhidhā || 146 ||

Translation

Pour la (vidyā/mantra) nommée Kalāyuṅmātṛkā, le ṛṣi est dit être Prajāpati; son mètre est déclaré Gāyatrī, et sa divinité présidante est Śāradā (Sarasvatī).

Word by Word

• कलायुṅमातृकायाः: of the Kalāyuṅ-mātṛkā
• कलायुṅमातृकायाः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक) + युङ् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-तुल्य) + मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कलायुङ्मातृका-); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (fem. gen. sg. ‘of the kalāyuṅ-mātṛkā’)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle ‘but/indeed’)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (masc. nom. sg. ‘is said/declared’)

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: प्रजानां पतिः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• गायत्री-छन्दः: the Gāyatrī metre
• गायत्री-छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (गायत्री एव छन्दः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• आख्यातम्: is called
• आख्यातम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) → आख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (neut. nom./acc. sg. ‘is called’)

• देवता: deity
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (fem. nom. sg.)

• शारदाभिधा: named ‘Śāradā’
• शारदाभिधा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारदा (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शारदा इति अभिधा यस्याः/या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga/technical context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Gayatri (Chandas)
• Sharada (Sarasvati)

FAQs

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

It encodes the traditional mantra-identifiers—ṛṣi (seer), chandas (metre), and devatā (presiding deity)—so the practitioner aligns recitation with its revealed source (Prajāpati), its rhythmic form (Gāyatrī), and its divine focus (Śāradā/Sarasvatī).

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

By naming Śāradā as the devatā, it frames practice as devotional orientation: mantra-japa is not merely sound, but reverent approach to the deity of wisdom and speech, cultivating disciplined, deity-centered remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (Vedāṅga of metre) and the standard rishi–chandas–devatā convention used in ritual/manuals: before japa or prayoga, one identifies the mantra’s seer, metre, and deity to perform it correctly.