Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

एवं शौचं विधायाथ गण्डूषान्द्वादशैव तु । कृत्वा वनस्पतिं चाथ प्रार्थयेन्मनुनामुना ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ śaucaṃ vidhāyātha gaṇḍūṣāndvādaśaiva tu | kṛtvā vanaspatiṃ cātha prārthayenmanunāmunā || 7 ||

Translation

ଏପରି ଶୌଚ କରି ସାରି, ଦ୍ୱାଦଶ ଗଣ୍ଡୂଷ (କୁଳ୍ଲା) କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ତାପରେ ‘ବନସ୍ପତି’ଙ୍କୁ ଆହ୍ୱାନ କରି, ଏହି ନିୟତ ମନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• शौचम्: purification
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विधाय: having done
• विधाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्गः वि-; ‘having performed’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• गण्डूषान्: mouthfuls (for rinsing)/gargles
• गण्डूषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण्डूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Karma (कर्म/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (here) गण्डूषान् विशेषयति

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; restriction/emphasis)

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having done’

• वनस्पतिम्: the lord of the forest (tree)
• वनस्पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• प्रार्थयेत्: should request/pray
• प्रार्थयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मनुना: by Manu (i.e., with Manu’s formula)
• मनुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/साधनभावः (‘by/with the mantra of Manu’)

• अमुना: with this
• अमुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमु (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘with this’ (referring to the mantra)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vanaspati

FAQs

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

It presents shauca (ritual purity) as a necessary inner-and-outer preparation before mantra-prayer, showing that disciplined cleansing precedes effective invocation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent, rule-based worship: the devotee purifies the body, follows a counted rite (twelve gaṇḍūṣas), and then offers prayer via mantra—devotion guided by vidhi (proper procedure).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style procedural ritualism—sequencing of acts, fixed counts (twelve), and mantra-application—typical of Vedanga-oriented technical instruction.