Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

नन्दी भृङ्गी रिटीस्कन्दो गणेशोमामहेश्वराः । वृषभश्च महाकालः शैवा वै द्वारपालकाः ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

nandī bhṛṅgī riṭīskando gaṇeśomāmaheśvarāḥ | vṛṣabhaśca mahākālaḥ śaivā vai dvārapālakāḥ || 83 ||

Translation

നന്ദി, ഭൃംഗി, റിടി, സ്കന്ദൻ, ഗണേശൻ, ഉമയും മഹേശ്വരനും—അതുപോലെ വൃഷഭവും മഹാകാലനും—ഇവരാണ് ശൈവ ദ്വാരപാലകർ।

Word by Word

• नन्दी: Nandi
• नन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन्/नन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भृङ्गी: Bhringi
• भृङ्गी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गिन्/भृङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रिटी-स्कन्दः: Riti-Skanda (name)
• रिटी-स्कन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिटी (प्रातिपदिक) + स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/संयुक्तनाम (रिटी-स्कन्दः)

• गणेश-उमा-महेश्वराः: Ganesha, Uma, and Maheshvara
• गणेश-उमा-महेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक) + उमा (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (गणेशः च उमा च महेश्वरः च)

• वृषभः: Vrishabha (bull)
• वृषभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• महा-कालः: Mahakala
• महा-कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• शैवाः: Shaiva (of Shiva)
• शैवाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (शिवसम्बन्धिनः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• द्वार-पालकाः: door-guards
• द्वार-पालकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Bhringi
• Riti
• Skanda
• Ganesha
• Uma
• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Vrishabha
• Mahakala

FAQs

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

It presents a Purāṇic mapping of Śiva’s sacred retinue, indicating that access to the divine space is symbolically guarded by Śaiva powers—devotion, discipline, protection, and awe—personified as dvārapālas.

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

By naming Śiva’s close attendants and forms, the verse supports bhakti through smaraṇa (remembrance) and upāsanā (reverential worship): the devotee approaches the deity with awareness of the divine household and its guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It is primarily a ritual-catalog (useful for pūjā/temple iconography and mantra-saṅkalpa contexts) rather than a direct Vedāṅga lesson; it aids correct identification and placement of Śaiva deities in worship procedures.