Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

स्वल्पोक्तां च गायत्रीं जपेदष्टोत्तरं शतम् । अष्टांविंशतिवारं वा गुह्येतिमनुनार्पयेत् ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

svalpoktāṃ ca gāyatrīṃ japedaṣṭottaraṃ śatam | aṣṭāṃviṃśativāraṃ vā guhyetimanunārpayet || 69 ||

Translation

Hendaklah juga mengulang Gāyatrī yang ringkas sebanyak seratus lapan kali; atau jika tidak, sebanyak dua puluh lapan kali sambil mempersembahkan dengan mantra yang bermula dengan “guhyeti”.

Word by Word

• स्वल्पोक्ताम्: briefly stated (one)
• स्वल्पोक्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्वल्प + उक्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (feminine, Accusative singular; adjectival)

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

• गायत्रीम्: the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (feminine, Accusative singular)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (should recite)

• अष्टोत्तरम्: eight more (i.e., plus eight)
• अष्टोत्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट-उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (neuter, Accusative singular; numerical qualifier)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; संख्याशब्द (neuter, Accusative singular; number)

• अष्टाविंशतिवारम्: twenty-eight times
• अष्टाविंशतिवारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टाविंशति-वार (प्रातिपदिक; अष्टाविंशति + वार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘वार’ = repetition/time (masculine, Accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• गुह्येति: (the mantra) ‘guhya’ (thus)
• गुह्येति: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य-इति (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: ‘गुह्य’ (नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग) इति-शब्देन उद्धृतम्; मन्त्रनामरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन (quoted with iti; used as mantra-name in Accusative singular)

• मनुना: with the mantra
• मनुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन (masculine, Instrumental singular)

• अर्पयेत्: should offer/dedicate
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (should offer/dedicate)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri

FAQs

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

It codifies a disciplined japa standard—especially the auspicious count of 108—showing that mantra practice must be done with measured repetition and correct accompanying formulae for the intended ritual fruit.

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

By prescribing repeated remembrance through Gāyatrī-japa and mantra-guided offering, it frames devotion as steady, rule-guided practice (anusandhāna) rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and regulated counting (saṅkhyā-niyama) in mantra-japa—an applied, technical aspect aligned with Vedāṅga-style discipline in correct performance.