Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17
The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances
Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi
ततश्च पञ्चभिः पादौ प्रक्षाल्यान्तर्जले पुनः । प्रविश्य नाभिमात्रे तु मृदं वामकरस्य च ॥ १७ ॥
tataśca pañcabhiḥ pādau prakṣālyāntarjale punaḥ | praviśya nābhimātre tu mṛdaṃ vāmakarasya ca || 17 ||
Kemudian basuh kedua-dua kaki dengan lima cedokan air, lalu masuk semula ke dalam air. Berdiri sehingga air mencecah pusat, dan ambillah segumpal tanah liat dengan tangan kiri juga.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedāṅga/ritual-technical discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It emphasizes śauca (ritual purity) as a prerequisite for sacred acts—washing, re-entering the water, and taking purificatory clay are outer disciplines meant to steady the mind and prepare the practitioner for Vedic rites.
Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing bodily and mental preparation; clean, disciplined worship is presented as a way to make one’s offerings and remembrance of the Divine more focused and reverent.
It highlights procedural ritual knowledge—prāyaścitta/śauca-oriented snāna details (counts like “five,” posture/level like “navel-deep,” and use of mṛd/clay), typical of technical instruction associated with Vedāṅga-style praxis.