Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अथ सन्ध्यादिकं कुर्यात् स्थित्वा चैवासने शुभे । केशवेन तथा नारायणेन माधवेन च ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

atha sandhyādikaṃ kuryāt sthitvā caivāsane śubhe | keśavena tathā nārāyaṇena mādhavena ca || 44 ||

Translation

അനന്തരം ശുഭാസനത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരമായി ഇരുന്ന് സന്ധ്യാദി നിത്യകർമ്മങ്ങൾ ആചരിക്കണം; കേശവൻ, നാരായണൻ, മാധവൻ എന്ന നാമങ്ങളാൽ ഭഗവാനെ ആവാഹിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• सन्ध्या-आदिकम्: sandhyā and related rites
• सन्ध्या-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘आदि’समासान्त—‘सन्ध्या आदि’ (sandhyā etc.)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्थित्वा: having sat/being seated
• स्थित्वा: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययभाव; ‘having stood/sat’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• आसने: on a seat
• आसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘आसने’ इति विशेषण (qualifies āsane)

• केशवेन: with/by Keśava
• केशवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/सह (instrumental/with)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (thus/likewise)

• नारायणेन: with/by Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• माधवेन: with/by Mādhava
• माधवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogue tradition associated with the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Keshava
• Narayana
• Madhava

FAQs

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

It links the obligatory Sandhyā (daily twilight worship) with remembrance of Viṣṇu through specific divine names, showing that routine ritual becomes spiritually potent when anchored in nāma-smaraṇa (name-remembrance).

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

By prescribing Sandhyā together with the invocation of Keśava, Nārāyaṇa, and Mādhava, it presents bhakti as practical and daily—devotion expressed through disciplined worship and continual recitation of the Lord’s names.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes correct performance of nitya-karma (daily rites) at Sandhyā times, implying attention to ritual procedure and timing—topics aligned with Vedāṅga concerns such as Kalpa (ritual practice) and proper liturgical usage.