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 ||
രാത്രിയിൽ ദക്ഷിണമുഖമായി, പകലിൽ ഉത്തരമുഖമായി നില്ക്കണം. മലവിസർജനത്തിന് ശേഷം മൃദ് (മണ്ണ്)യും ജലവും ഉപയോഗിച്ച് വിധിപൂർവ്വം ശൗചം ആചരിക്കണം.
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.