Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

प्रागास्य उदगास्यो वाप्याचामेत्प्रयर्तेंद्रियः । त्रिश्चतुर्धा पिबेदापो गंधफेनादिवर्जिताः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

prāgāsya udagāsyo vāpyācāmetprayarteṃdriyaḥ | triścaturdhā pibedāpo gaṃdhaphenādivarjitāḥ || 19 ||

Translation

หันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออกหรือทิศเหนือ สำรวมอินทรีย์แล้วพึงทำอาจมนะ (ācamana) พึงจิบน้ำสามหรือสี่ครั้ง เป็นน้ำที่ปราศจากกลิ่น ฟอง และมลทินอื่น ๆ ๑๙

Word by Word

• प्राक्-आस्यः: facing east
• प्राक्-आस्यः: कर्ता (Karta; implied ‘he’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (प्राक् + आस्यः = ‘पूर्वाभिमुखः’)

• उदक्-आस्यः: facing north
• उदक्-आस्यः: कर्ता (Karta; alternative subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदक्/उदग् (अव्यय) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (उदक् + आस्यः = ‘उत्तराभिमुखः’)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• आचामेत्: should sip (water)
• आचामेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चम् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रयत-इन्द्रियः: with controlled senses
• प्रयत-इन्द्रियः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of the doer)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; यत् धातु + प्र) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘यस्य इन्द्रियाणि प्रयतानि’)

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: क्रियाविशेषण (frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्या-अव्यय (numeral adverb: thrice)

• चतुर्धा: in four sips/parts
• चतुर्धा: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: in four parts/ways)

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आपः: water (waters)
• आपः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• गन्ध-फेन-आदि-वर्जिताः: free from smell, foam, etc.
• गन्ध-फेन-आदि-वर्जिताः: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of ‘आपः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + फेन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘गन्धफेनादिभिः वर्जिताः’)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the teaching as transmitted in the Purāṇic dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It links inner discipline (sense-restraint) with outer purity (ācamana), teaching that ritual purification is effective when performed with controlled mind and clean water.

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

By prescribing ācamana before sacred acts, it supports bhakti as a disciplined practice—preparing the devotee’s body and mind for worship and mantra with reverence and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa/ritual procedure: correct orientation (east/north), number of sips (three or four), and the required purity of water—core details of Vaidika conduct.