Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

केशवाद्यां मातृकां तु न्यसेद्वैष्णवसत्तमः । केशवः कीर्तिसंयुक्तः कांत्या नारायणस्तथा ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

keśavādyāṃ mātṛkāṃ tu nyasedvaiṣṇavasattamaḥ | keśavaḥ kīrtisaṃyuktaḥ kāṃtyā nārāyaṇastathā || 86 ||

Translation

Vaiṣṇava yang paling utama hendaklah melakukan nyāsa Mātṛkā bermula dengan “Keśava”. “Keśava” dikaitkan dengan kīrti (kemasyhuran), dan demikian juga “Nārāyaṇa” dikaitkan dengan kānti (cahaya seri).

Word by Word

• केशव-आद्याम्: beginning with Keśava
• केशव-आद्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केशव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण — ‘beginning with Keśava’

• मातृकाम्: the mātṛkā (set of mother-deities/letters)
• मातृकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• न्यसेत्: should place (perform nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; ‘should place/assign (nyāsa)’

• वैष्णव-सत्तमः: the best Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णव-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); ‘best among Vaiṣṇavas’

• केशवः: Keśava
• केशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• कीर्ति-संयुक्तः: joined with fame
• कीर्ति-संयुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्ति + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण — ‘endowed with fame’

• कान्त्या: with splendor
• कान्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘thus/likewise’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Keśava, Nārāyaṇa)
• Vaiṣṇava

FAQs

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

It links Vaiṣṇava nyāsa to specific divine names of Viṣṇu, teaching that mantra-placement is not mechanical but carries distinct spiritual qualities—here, fame (kīrti) and radiance (kānti) connected to Keśava and Nārāyaṇa.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent use of Viṣṇu’s names in disciplined ritual practice; the devotee internalizes the Lord’s attributes by placing (nyāsa) and contemplating these names and their associated qualities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical mantra-vidyā used in ritual procedure—especially nyāsa and the Mātṛkā scheme—showing applied sacred phonetics and structured recitation/placement associated with śikṣā and related ritual disciplines.