Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66
The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances
Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi
एतद्धि सर्वपापघ्नं प्रोक्तं चैवाघमर्षणम् । ततश्च हस्तौ प्रक्षाल्य प्राग्वदाचम्य मन्त्रवित् ॥ ६६ ॥
etaddhi sarvapāpaghnaṃ proktaṃ caivāghamarṣaṇam | tataśca hastau prakṣālya prāgvadācamya mantravit || 66 ||
ഇതുതന്നെ ‘അഘമർഷണം’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു; ഇത് സർവപാപനാശകമാണ്। തുടർന്ന് മന്ത്രവിദൻ കൈകൾ കഴുകി, മുൻപുപോലെ ആചമനം ചെയ്യണം।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It identifies Aghamarṣaṇa as a comprehensive sin-dispelling purification and then stresses disciplined follow-through—external cleanliness (washing hands) and internal ritual purity (ācamana).
While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti by insisting that worship and mantra-japa be preceded and followed by purity of body and conduct, making devotional practice orderly and sattvic.
It highlights prayoga (ritual procedure) and mantra-competence: the correct sequence—Aghamarṣaṇa, then hand-washing, then ācamana ‘as before’—showing technical attention to śauca within Vedic practice.