Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

शार्ङ्गबाणं मस्तके च विन्यसेत्क्रमशः सुधीः । कर्णमूले पार्श्वयोश्च पृष्ठे नाभौ ककुद्यपि ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

śārṅgabāṇaṃ mastake ca vinyasetkramaśaḥ sudhīḥ | karṇamūle pārśvayośca pṛṣṭhe nābhau kakudyapi || 55 ||

Translation

വിദ്വാൻ സാധകൻ ക്രമമായി തലയിൽ ശാർങ്ഗവും ബാണവും എന്ന ചിഹ്നങ്ങൾ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം. അതുപോലെ ചെവിയുടെ മൂലങ്ങളിൽ, ഇരുപാർശ്വങ്ങളിൽ, പിറകിൽ, നാഭിയിൽ, കകുദിൽ (മുകളിലെ പുറം) പോലും സ്ഥാപിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• शार्ङ्गबाणम्: Śārṅga-arrow (arrow of Śārṅga bow)
• शार्ङ्गबाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शार्ङ्गस्य बाणः/बाणम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• मस्तके: on the head
• मस्तके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/स्य (धातु: न्यस्/विन्यस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: वि + नि

• क्रमशः: in sequence
• क्रमशः: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (in order, successively)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कर्णमूले: at the root of the ear
• कर्णमूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्णस्य मूलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पार्श्वयोः: on the two sides
• पार्श्वयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (locative/ genitive dual; here locative: on the two sides)

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

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नाभौ: at the navel
• नाभौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ककुदि: on the hump/upper back (nape)
• ककुदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śārṅga

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined, sequential ritual placement (vinyāsa/nyāsa) of Viṣṇu’s emblems (Śārṅga and bāṇa), turning the body into a sanctified support for remembrance and worship.

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

By physically marking/placing Viṣṇu’s symbols on key bodily points, the devotee trains constant, embodied recollection of the Lord—devotion expressed through precise, reverent practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual method—ordered placement (kramaśaḥ vinyāsa) at specified body locations—reflecting procedural discipline typical of auxiliary Vedic sciences used in correct performance of rites.