Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

सिसृक्षोर्निखिलं विश्वं मुहुः शुक्रं प्रजापतेः । मातरः सर्वभूतानामापो देव्यः पुनन्तु माम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

sisṛkṣornikhilaṃ viśvaṃ muhuḥ śukraṃ prajāpateḥ | mātaraḥ sarvabhūtānāmāpo devyaḥ punantu mām || 36 ||

Translation

万有の母なる神聖なる水よ、我を清めたまえ。プラジャーパティがこの全宇宙を創造せんと欲するたび、その精種より幾度も湧き出づるその水よ。

Word by Word

• सिसृक्षोः: of (him) desiring to create
• सिसृक्षोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सि√सृक्ष् (धातु) → सिसृक्षु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इच्छार्थक कृदन्त (Desiderative-based), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (प्रजापतेः) विशेषणभावः

• निखिलम्: entire
• निखिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (विश्वम्)

• विश्वम्: universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/frequency)

• शुक्रम्: seed/seminal essence
• शुक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• प्रजापतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मातरः: mothers
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां भूतानाम्)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचनान्त), प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• देव्यः: divine
• देव्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (आपः)

• पुनन्तु: may (they) purify
• पुनन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada (in a ritual/vedic-style prayer context within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Apah (Divine Waters)

FAQs

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

It invokes Āpaḥ (the divine Waters) as cosmic mothers and purifiers, linking personal purification to the primordial creative process of Prajāpati—suggesting that inner and outer cleanliness participates in cosmic order (ṛta).

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

Though framed as a purification prayer, it expresses bhakti through reverent surrender—seeking sanctification from divine forces (Āpaḥ) and acknowledging the Lord’s creative will (Prajāpati) as the ground of all existence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual application of mantra for śauca (purity), relevant to kalpa-style practice (procedures such as snāna/ācamana) and the Vedic understanding of Āpaḥ as purifying deities used in ceremonial contexts.