Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अनृताद्या च गायत्री छन्दो विष्णुश्च देवता । चक्राद्यायुधसंयुक्तं कुम्भादर्शधरं हरिम् ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

anṛtādyā ca gāyatrī chando viṣṇuśca devatā | cakrādyāyudhasaṃyuktaṃ kumbhādarśadharaṃ harim || 99 ||

Translation

“അനൃതാദ്യാ…” എന്നു തുടങ്ങുന്ന മന്ത്രഭാഗത്തിന് ഗായത്രി ഛന്ദസ്സ്; അധിദേവത വിഷ്ണു. ചക്രാദി ആയുധങ്ങളോടും കുംഭവും ദർപ്പണവും ധരിച്ച ഹരിയെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अनृत-आद्या: beginning with ‘anṛta’
• अनृत-आद्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): ‘अनृतं आदिः यस्याः/यत्र’ (beginning with ‘anṛta’)

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

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī (meter/mantra)
• गायत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• छन्दः: the meter
• छन्दः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• चक्र-आदि-आयुध-संयुक्तम्: endowed with weapons beginning with the discus
• चक्र-आदि-आयुध-संयुक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + सम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘संयुक्त’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘चक्रादीनि आयुधानि’ इति, तैः संयुक्तम् (joined with weapons such as the discus)

• कुम्भ-आदर्श-धरम्: holding a pot and a mirror
• कुम्भ-आदर्श-धरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; √धृ (धातु) + अच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘धर’ = धातुजन्य-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun); तत्पुरुष-समासः: कुम्भं च आदर्शं च धरति इति (holder of a pot and a mirror)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (instructing/reciting technical correspondences as taught in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

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

It links a specific mantra-section (“anṛtā-…”), its meter (Gāyatrī), and its presiding deity (Viṣṇu), showing that correct chandas–devatā alignment supports focused worship and effective recitation.

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

Bhakti is expressed through dhyāna: the devotee contemplates Hari’s iconography—discus and other weapons, along with the kumbha and mirror—so the mind becomes one-pointed on Viṣṇu while reciting the mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Chandas (Vedic prosody) and devatā-viniyoga—identifying the meter and presiding deity for a given mantra/portion, a key ritual-technical step in Vedic recitation and application.