Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

प्रातर्मध्यंदिने चैव गृहस्थः स्नानमाचरेत् । वानप्रस्थश्च देवर्षे स्नायात्त्रिषवणं यतिः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

prātarmadhyaṃdine caiva gṛhasthaḥ snānamācaret | vānaprasthaśca devarṣe snāyāttriṣavaṇaṃ yatiḥ || 64 ||

Translation

గృహస్థుడు ప్రాతఃకాలంలోను మధ్యాహ్నంలోను స్నానం చేయాలి. ఓ దేవర్షీ, వానప్రస్థుడూ అలాగే; యతి మాత్రం త్రిషవణం—మూడు సంధ్యాకాలాల్లో స్నానించాలి।

Word by Word

• प्रातर्-मध्यंदिने: in the morning and at midday
• प्रातर्-मध्यंदिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + मध्यंदिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (copulative, collective) रूपेण सप्तमी एकवचन (locative singular) अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘प्रातः च मध्यंदिने च’

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• गृहस्थः: a householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• वानप्रस्थः: a forest-dweller (vānaprastha)
• वानप्रस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

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

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• त्रि-सवणम्: three times (a day)
• त्रि-सवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular); द्विगु-समासः ‘three times (daily)’

• यतिः: an ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha–Dharma discourse context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames स्नान (ritual bathing) as a daily purifier aligned to one’s āśrama, supporting inner cleanliness (śauca) and readiness for sandhyā, japa, and worship.

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

By prescribing regular purification at set times, it prepares the devotee’s body-mind for disciplined worship; such steadiness (niyama) is presented as a practical foundation for sustained bhakti and daily remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ācāra (ritual procedure) through triṣavaṇa timing—morning, noon, and evening sandhyā—showing how daily rites are scheduled and maintained according to one’s life-stage.