Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

दामोदरेण मूर्द्धानं मुखं सङ्कर्षणेन च । वासुदेवेन प्रद्युम्नेन स्पृशेन्नासिके ततः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

dāmodareṇa mūrddhānaṃ mukhaṃ saṅkarṣaṇena ca | vāsudevena pradyumnena spṛśennāsike tataḥ || 47 ||

Translation

Dengan mantra Dāmodara, sentuhlah ubun-ubun; dengan Saṅkarṣaṇa, sentuhlah wajah; kemudian dengan Vāsudeva dan Pradyumna, sentuhlah kedua lubang hidung.

Word by Word

• दामोदरेण: with/by Dāmodara
• दामोदरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मूर्द्धानम्: head/crown
• मूर्द्धानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; रूप: मूर्द्धानम् (mūrdhānam)

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सङ्कर्षणेन: with/by Saṅkarṣaṇa
• सङ्कर्षणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• वासुदेवेन: with/by Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• प्रद्युम्नेन: with/by Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नासिके: the two nostrils
• नासिके: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; ‘two nostrils’ (dual)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम (thereafter)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure in dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Damodara
• Sankarshana
• Vasudeva
• Pradyumna

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined nyāsa/anga-sparśa practice where the devotee sanctifies specific body-points by invoking Viṣṇu’s forms, aligning the body and breath with divine remembrance.

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

Bhakti is shown as embodied devotion: not only mental praise, but reverent, mantra-guided worship where the devotee physically enacts surrender by touching the body while naming the Lord’s manifestations.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—mantra-viniyoga and procedural correctness (prayoga) akin to śikṣā (sound/recitation discipline) and kalpa (ritual method), emphasizing exact placement of mantra with prescribed touches.