Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

संप्रार्थ्यैवं दन्तकाष्ठं द्वादशाङ्गुलसंमितम् । गृहीत्वा काममंत्रेण कुर्यान्मन्त्री समाहितः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

saṃprārthyaivaṃ dantakāṣṭhaṃ dvādaśāṅgulasaṃmitam | gṛhītvā kāmamaṃtreṇa kuryānmantrī samāhitaḥ || 9 ||

Translation

अशा प्रकारे नम्रतेने प्रार्थना करून बारा अंगुळ मापाचे दंतकाष्ठ घ्यावे; मग एकाग्र मनाने काममंत्र जपत विधी करावा।

Word by Word

• saṃprārthya: having prayed/requested
• saṃprārthya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + prārth (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √prārth with upasarga sam-; indeclinable verbal form; ‘having prayed/requested’

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• dantakāṣṭham: a tooth-stick
• dantakāṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta + kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘tooth-stick’

• dvādaśāṅgula-saṃmitam: measuring twelve finger-breadths
• dvādaśāṅgula-saṃmitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa + aṅgula + saṃmita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying dantakāṣṭham; तत्पुरुषः—‘measured as twelve aṅgulas’

• gṛhītvā: having taken
• gṛhītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √grah; ‘having taken’

• kāma-maṃtreṇa: with the Kāma-mantra
• kāma-maṃtreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘with the Kāma-mantra’

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; ‘should do/perform’

• mantrī: the practitioner (mantrin)
• mantrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāhitaḥ: composed, attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā in past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; ‘collected/attentive’

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual/technical procedure to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It stresses that even small acts of daily purity (like using a properly measured tooth-stick) become spiritually potent when done with reverence and a collected mind, establishing the right foundation for mantra-sādhana.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined reverence—seeking permission/blessing, maintaining purity, and performing actions with mindful attention—so that mantra-recitation is not mechanical but offered with sincerity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual measurement and procedural correctness (aṅgula-pramāṇa and prescribed ācāra) are emphasized—typical of Vedāṅga-oriented guidance supporting effective mantra and rite performance.