Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

अनन्तादित्यसङ्काशं निजभूषायुधैर्युतम् । मन्त्रमूर्तिं प्रभुं स्मृत्वा तत्पादोदकसंभवाम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

anantādityasaṅkāśaṃ nijabhūṣāyudhairyutam | mantramūrtiṃ prabhuṃ smṛtvā tatpādodakasaṃbhavām || 21 ||

Translation

ଅନନ୍ତ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସଦୃଶ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ, ନିଜ ଭୂଷଣ ଓ ଆୟୁଧରେ ଯୁକ୍ତ, ମନ୍ତ୍ରମୂର୍ତ୍ତି ପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ମରଣ କରି, ତାଙ୍କ ପାଦପ୍ରକ୍ଷାଳନ ଜଳରୁ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ ସେହି ପବିତ୍ର ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟ/ଜଳ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ॥୨୧॥

Word by Word

• अनन्तादित्यसङ्काशम्: resembling the endless sun
• अनन्तादित्यसङ्काशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + आदित्य + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (अनन्तादित्यवत् सङ्काशः)

• निजभूषायुधैः: with (his) own ornaments and weapons
• निजभूषायुधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + भूषा + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (भूषा च आयुधानि च) विशेषणार्थे साधनत्वेन

• युतम्: endowed, furnished
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (युक्तम्)

• मन्त्रमूर्तिम्: the mantra-embodied form
• मन्त्रमूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य मूर्तिः)

• प्रभुम्: the Lord, master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having remembered/meditated upon)

• तत्: of that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; समासपूर्वपद

• पादोदकसंभवाम्: arisen from the water of his feet
• पादोदकसंभवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + उदक + सम्भवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (पादस्य उदकात् सम्भवा)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context, teaching received from the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (the Lord as Mantramurti)
• Surya (as a simile: Aditya)

FAQs

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

It links inner remembrance (smaraṇa) of the mantra-embodied Lord with outer ritual purity, teaching that sacred acts become effective when grounded in devotion and mantra-consciousness.

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

Bhakti is expressed as meditative remembrance of the Lord’s divine form and qualities; the ritual element (pādodaka) is presented as meaningful only after sincere smṛti of the Prabhu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure and mantra-priority—an applied, technical approach to worship where correct remembrance/recitation (mantra) precedes the use of consecrated water in purification rites.