Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

कृत्वार्कमन्दलात्तीर्थान्याह्वयेन्मुष्टिमुद्र या । ब्रह्माण्डोदरतीर्थानि करैः स्पृष्टानि ते रवेः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvārkamandalāttīrthānyāhvayenmuṣṭimudra yā | brahmāṇḍodaratīrthāni karaiḥ spṛṣṭāni te raveḥ || 25 ||

Translation

Après avoir formé le « disque du Soleil » (arka-maṇḍala), qu’on invoque les tīrthas au moyen du sceau du poing (muṣṭi-mudrā). Ô Ravi, les tīrthas qui demeurent dans le sein de « l’œuf cosmique » (brahmāṇḍa) sont touchés par tes rayons, tels des mains.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done/made)

• अर्कमण्डलात्: from the solar disc
• अर्कमण्डलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अर्कस्य मण्डलम्)

• तीर्थानि: sacred fords/holy waters
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• आह्वयेत्: should invoke/call
• आह्वयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुष्टिमुद्रया: with the fist-gesture (muṣṭi-mudrā)
• मुष्टिमुद्रया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (मुष्टिरूपा मुद्रा)

• ब्रह्माण्डोदरतीर्थानि: the tīrthas within the cosmic egg (brahmāṇḍa)
• ब्रह्माण्डोदरतीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड + उदर + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्माण्डस्य उदरे तीर्थानि)

• करैः: with (the) hands
• करैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• स्पृष्टानि: touched
• स्पृष्टानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मणि भावः (having been touched)

• ते: those
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (refers to tīrthas)

• रवेः: of the Sun
• रवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Surya)

FAQs

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

It presents a ritual-cosmological vision: by forming the Sun-disc and using a prescribed mudrā, the practitioner ritually “brings near” tīrthas, recognizing the Sun as the cosmic connector whose rays symbolically touch and activate sacred spaces throughout the brahmāṇḍa.

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

Though technical in tone, it supports bhakti by directing reverence to Ravi as a divine locus of sacred power—invocation (āhvāna) and mindful gesture become devotional acts that internalize pilgrimage through worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual technique—use of mudrā (hand-seal) and a prescribed maṇḍala (diagram/circle) for invocation—reflecting applied kalpa-style procedure and the technical discipline typical of Book 1.3’s Vedāṅga-oriented material.