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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

दक्षिणाभिमुखं रात्रौ दिवा स्थित्वा ह्युदङ्मुखः । मलं विसृज्य शौचं तु मृदाद्भिः समुपाचरेत् ॥ ५ ॥

dakṣiṇābhimukhaṃ rātrau divā sthitvā hyudaṅmukhaḥ | malaṃ visṛjya śaucaṃ tu mṛdādbhiḥ samupācaret || 5 ||

La nuit, on doit faire face au sud, et le jour se tenir debout face au nord. Après l’évacuation, on accomplira la purification (śauca) avec de la terre (argile) et de l’eau, selon la règle.

दक्षिणाभिमुखम्facing south
दक्षिणाभिमुखम्:
Karma (कर्म/गत्यर्थ-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदक्षिण-अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक; दक्षिण + अभिमुख)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयप्रायः; ‘दक्षिणं अभिमुखम्’ (as adverbial accusative with sthitvā)
रात्रौat night
रात्रौ:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootरात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणम्
दिवाby day
दिवा:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदिवा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
स्थित्वाhaving stood
स्थित्वा:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having stood’
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)
उदङ्मुखःfacing north
उदङ्मुखः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootउदङ्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक; उदङ् + मुख)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उदङ् = उत्तरदिक्)
मलम्impurity/excrement
मलम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
विसृज्यhaving evacuated
विसृज्य:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-सृज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्गः वि-; ‘having discharged’
शौचम्purification/cleaning
शौचम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootशौच (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
तुthen/but
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; contrast/indeed)
मृदात्from earth/clay
मृदात्:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘from/with (a lump of) earth’ (ablative used in compound with -bhiḥ)
भिःwith (instrumental plural marker)
भिः:
Karana (करण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभिस् (विभक्ति-प्रत्यय; तृतीया-बहुवचन)
Formविभक्ति-प्रत्यय-रूप (instrumental plural ending used after mṛdāt in sandhi: mṛdādbhiḥ)
समुपाचरेत्should perform/should practice
समुपाचरेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-उप-आ-चर् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative/पोटेन्शियल), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Vedāṅga-style ritual guidance)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

It frames bodily cleanliness (śauca) as a dhārmic discipline: removing physical impurity with proper method and mindfulness supports ritual fitness and inner purity.

While not directly teaching bhakti, it provides the purity foundation traditionally required for worship and mantra-japa—cleanliness and correct conduct prepare the devotee for devotional practice.

It highlights technical dharma-śāstra style procedure (prayoga): directional etiquette by time (day/night) and the prescribed materials (earth and water) for post-evacuation purification.