Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

मन्त्रयेदर्कमन्त्रेण सुधाबीजेन तज्जलम् । मूलेन चैकादशधा तत्र सम्मन्त्र्य भावयेत् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

mantrayedarkamantreṇa sudhābījena tajjalam | mūlena caikādaśadhā tatra sammantrya bhāvayet || 30 ||

Translation

Que l’on consacre cette eau en récitant l’Arka-mantra et la syllabe-semence de Sudhā ; puis, avec le mūla-mantra, après l’avoir dûment investie onze fois, qu’on la contemple et qu’on l’imprègne de la puissance sacrée voulue.

Word by Word

• मन्त्रयेत्: should consecrate/chant over
• मन्त्रयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) → मन्त्रय् (नामधातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; नामधातु ‘to utter/empower with mantra’

• अर्क-मन्त्रेण: with the sun-mantra
• अर्क-मन्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘sun’s mantra’)

• सुधा-बीजेन: with the nectar-seed (bīja)
• सुधा-बीजेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘nectar-seed syllable’)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘जलम्’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• मूलेन: with the root (mantra)
• मूलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘with the root(-mantra)’ (contextual)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकादशधा: elevenfold / eleven times
• एकादशधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकादशधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner), ‘in eleven ways/times’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सम्मन्त्र्य: having duly chanted over
• सम्मन्त्र्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√मन्त्र् (धातु/नामधातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), सम्-उपसर्ग; ‘having fully consecrated/recited’

• भावयेत्: should infuse/meditate upon
• भावयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) भावयति ‘to cause to be/infuse, contemplate’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context; Vedanga-oriented instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Sun)

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-samskara: water becomes a sacred medium when charged by specific mantras (Arka-mantra, bīja, and mūla-mantra) along with bhāvanā (intentional contemplation), showing that inner intention and precise recitation together produce ritual efficacy.

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

Even in a technical rite, the verse emphasizes bhāvanā—devotional, focused contemplation—indicating that ritual power is completed by heartfelt intent, aligning outer practice with inner devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual science (prayoga): using bīja and mūla-mantra, prescribed repetition counts (elevenfold), and mantra-application for purification—typical of technical disciplines associated with Vedic practice.