Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 147

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

ह्रस्वदीर्घांतरस्थैश्च तारैः कुर्यात्षडङ्गकम् । पद्मचक्रगुणैणांश्च दधतीं च त्रिलोचनाम् ॥ १४७ ॥

Transliteration

hrasvadīrghāṃtarasthaiśca tāraiḥ kuryātṣaḍaṅgakam | padmacakraguṇaiṇāṃśca dadhatīṃ ca trilocanām || 147 ||

Translation

À l’aide des marques tonales (tāra) indiquant les sons brefs, longs et intermédiaires, qu’on établisse l’agencement à six membres (ṣaḍaṅga). Et qu’on contemple la Déesse aux trois yeux, portant les qualités du lotus et de la roue (cakra), tenant aussi le guṇa et l’aṃśa (mesures constitutives).

Word by Word

• ह्रस्व-दीर्घ-अन्तरस्थैः: with the short, long, and intermediate (tones/letters)
• ह्रस्व-दीर्घ-अन्तरस्थैः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तरस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (ह्रस्वाश्च दीर्घाश्च अन्तरस्थाश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (masc. instr. pl.)

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

• तारैः: with the syllables/‘tāra’ sounds
• तारैः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (masc. instr. pl.)

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg. ‘should make/do’)

• षडङ्गकम्: the six-limbed (form)
• षडङ्गकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (षड् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्गम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• पद्म-चक्र-गुणैः: with the qualities of a lotus-wheel
• पद्म-चक्र-गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पद्मचक्रस्य गुणाः/पद्मचक्रगुणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (masc. instr. pl.)

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

• एणान्: antelopes/deer
• एणान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (masc. acc. pl.)

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

• दधतीम्: bearing/holding
• दधतीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) → दधत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकृदन्त, शतृ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (fem. acc. sg. ‘bearing/holding’)

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

• त्रिलोचनाम्: three-eyed (goddess)
• त्रिलोचनाम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः प्रयोगः; समास: त्रयः लोचनानि यस्याः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, Vedanga exposition context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Trilocana (three-eyed Goddess)
• Padma (lotus)
• Cakra (wheel/discus)

FAQs

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

It links correct Vedic sound-formation (short/long/intermediate measures and tonal markers) with sacred visualization, implying that precision in recitation and inner contemplation together complete a mantra-based practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, disciplined worship: the devotee honors the deity through accurate mantra-recitation and focused meditation on the divine form (the three-eyed Goddess with lotus-and-wheel qualities).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Śikṣā/Chandas-style fundamentals—hrasva and dīrgha timing, intermediate placements, and tonal/svara markers—used to correctly build and recite structured (ṣaḍaṅga) mantric formulations in Narada Purana rituals.