Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

एवं तु वैष्णवः कुर्यान्मृद्भिस्तीर्थोद्भवादिभिः । अग्निहोत्रोद्भवं भस्म गृहीत्वा त्र्यम्बकेण तु ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ tu vaiṣṇavaḥ kuryānmṛdbhistīrthodbhavādibhiḥ | agnihotrodbhavaṃ bhasma gṛhītvā tryambakeṇa tu || 56 ||

Translation

Assim deve proceder um vaiṣṇava, usando argila e semelhantes provenientes dos tīrtha, os lugares sagrados de peregrinação; e, tomando a cinza produzida pelo Agnihotra, deve (aplicá-la) enquanto recita o mantra de Tryambaka.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (thus, in this manner)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• वैष्णवः: a Vaiṣṇava (devotee of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मृद्भिः: with clays/earths
• मृद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• तीर्थोद्भवादिभिः: originating from sacred places, etc.
• तीर्थोद्भवादिभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (तीर्थोद्भव + आदि) बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (तीर्थात् उद्भवः येषां ते) + आदिशब्देन समाहार; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मृद्भिः)

• अग्निहोत्रोद्भवम्: arisen from the agnihotra (fire-rite)
• अग्निहोत्रोद्भवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्निहोत्रात् उद्भवम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (भस्म)

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having taken)

• त्र्यम्बकेण: with (the mantra/name) Tryambaka
• त्र्यम्बकेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (instrumental: by/with Tryambaka)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्त-तु (emphasis)

Speaker

Nārada (teaching in dialogue with the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Agnihotra
• Tryambaka (mantra)

FAQs

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

It links Vaiṣṇava devotion with disciplined ritual purity—using tīrtha-sourced sacred materials and consecrated Agnihotra ash, sanctified through mantra, as an aid to inner and outer purification.

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

Bhakti here is shown as embodied practice: the devotee honors Viṣṇu through regulated ācāra (conduct), treating sacred places, Vedic fire-rites, and mantra as supports for steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual application (kalpa-style procedure) and mantra-prayoga—how specific consecrated substances (tīrtha-mṛd, agnihotra-bhasma) are used together with a prescribed mantra (Tryambaka).