Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

वालज्जाश्रीमुखैः प्रोक्तं शाक्तं स्वाहावसानिकैः । वाग्लज्जाश्रीमुखैः प्रोक्तं द्विजाचमनमर्थदम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

vālajjāśrīmukhaiḥ proktaṃ śāktaṃ svāhāvasānikaiḥ | vāglajjāśrīmukhaiḥ proktaṃ dvijācamanamarthadam || 53 ||

Translation

On enseigne que la formule śākta commence par « vā, la, ljjā, śrī » et s’achève par « svāhā ». Quant à l’ācamana du dvija (dvijācamanam), porteur d’efficacité, on l’enseigne comme commençant par « vāk, ljjā, śrī ».

Word by Word

• वा-लज्जा-श्री-मुखैः: with (mantras) having ‘vā, lajjā, śrī’ as initial syllables
• वा-लज्जा-श्री-मुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (वा-लज्जा-श्री मुखं येषाम्)

• प्रोक्तम्: is stated/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शाक्तम्: the Śākta (ācamana/rite)
• शाक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वाहा-अवसानिकैः: ending with ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहा-अवसानिकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अवसानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि

• वाक्-लज्जा-श्री-मुखैः: with (mantras) having ‘vāk, lajjā, śrī’ as initial syllables
• वाक्-लज्जा-श्री-मुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (वाक्-लज्जा-श्री मुखं येषाम्)

• प्रोक्तम्: is stated/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विज-आचमनम्: the ācamana of a twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)
• द्विज-आचमनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य आचमनम्)

• अर्थ-दम्: granting the desired result
• अर्थ-दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय (अर्थं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Svāhā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-usage is not random: correct openings (mukha) and correct concluding utterances like “svāhā” determine ritual efficacy, especially in Śākta practice and the purificatory act of ācamanam.

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

By highlighting disciplined ritual speech and purity (ācamanam), it supports the devotional life indirectly: precise, reverent mantra-practice prepares the devotee’s body and speech for worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) and ritual prayoga: the verse specifies mantra-components—beginning syllables and the terminal “svāhā”—and links them to correct performance of ācamanam.