Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

वरं पाशं च शूलं च दधानां नृकरोटिकाम् । सायाह्ने रत्नभूषाढ्यां पीतकौशेयवाससाम् ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

varaṃ pāśaṃ ca śūlaṃ ca dadhānāṃ nṛkaroṭikām | sāyāhne ratnabhūṣāḍhyāṃ pītakauśeyavāsasām || 72 ||

Translation

施願の印を結び、羂索と三叉戟を執り、さらに人頭蓋の鉢を携える御姿を、夕刻には宝玉の飾りに満ち、黄の絹衣をまとって観想せよ。

Word by Word

• वरम्: a boon (gesture/boon)
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (masculine, Accusative singular)

• पाशम्: noose
• पाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (masculine, Accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• शूलम्: trident/spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (neuter, Accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• दधानाम्: holding/bearing
• दधानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘धारयन्ती’ अर्थे (feminine, Accusative singular)

• नृकरोटिकाम्: a human skull (skull-bowl)
• नृकरोटिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ-करोटिका (प्रातिपदिक; नृ + करोटिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (feminine, Accusative singular)

• सायाह्ने: in the evening
• सायाह्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायाह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (masculine, Locative singular)

• रत्नभूषाढ्याम्: rich in jeweled ornaments
• रत्नभूषाढ्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न-भूषा-आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक; रत्न + भूषा + आढ्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine, Accusative singular)

• पीतकौशेयवाससाम्: wearing yellow silk garments
• पीतकौशेयवाससाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत-कौशेय-वासस् (प्रातिपदिक; पीत + कौशेय + वासस्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वासस्’ (garment) as base; विशेषण (feminine, Accusative singular)

Speaker

Narada (describing a deity/iconographic form within the teaching to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)

FAQs

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

It gives an iconographic and ritual-time description of a fierce, protective Goddess-form—her weapons and skull-bowl signify restraint of negative forces, cutting of ignorance, and transformative power in upāsanā.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through concrete contemplation (dhyāna) of the deity’s form—remembering her attributes, attire, and weapons as part of disciplined worship and focused reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is implied through precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative markers) and time-indication (sāyāhna, evening), aligning practice with procedural accuracy typical of Vedanga-informed worship.