Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

संरक्ष्यास्त्रेण तत्पश्चाच्चक्रमुद्रां प्रदर्शयेत् । वह्न्यर्केन्दुमण्डलानि तत्र सन्चितयेद्बुधः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

saṃrakṣyāstreṇa tatpaścāccakramudrāṃ pradarśayet | vahnyarkendumaṇḍalāni tatra sancitayedbudhaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

เมื่อคุ้มครองด้วยมนตร์อัสตราแล้ว จึงแสดงจักรมุทรา จากนั้นผู้รู้พึงจัดวางวงมณฑลแห่งอัคนี สุริยะ และจันทราไว้ ณ ที่นั้น

Word by Word

• संरक्ष्य: having protected
• संरक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), सम्-उपसर्ग; ‘having protected’

• अस्त्रेण: with a weapon/with a missile
• अस्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘that’ (refers to act/thing)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time/sequence)

• चक्र-मुद्राम्: the discus-seal/gesture
• चक्र-मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुषः (‘of the discus’ + ‘seal/gesture’)

• प्रदर्शयेत्: should display
• प्रदर्शयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दृश्/दर्श् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘make show’ (प्रदर्शयति)

• वह्नि-अर्क-इन्दु-मण्डलानि: the circles of fire, sun, and moon
• वह्नि-अर्क-इन्दु-मण्डलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective copulative)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सञ्चितयेत्: should arrange/collect
• सञ्चितयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√चि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative/denominative sense ‘cause to be arranged/collect’

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Surya
• Chandra
• Vishnu (implied by Cakra-mudra)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual protection and alignment with cosmic forces: first sanctifying the space through an astra-mantra, then invoking Viṣṇu’s protective authority via the Cakra-mudrā, and finally stabilizing the rite by placing the mandalas of Agni, Sūrya, and Candra.

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

Though technical, it reflects bhakti through symbolic surrender to divine protection—especially Viṣṇu’s cakra—showing that devotion is expressed not only in praise but also in disciplined, reverent ritual application.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science: the use of protective mantras (astra), prescribed hand-seals (mudrā), and mandala/diagram placement—topics aligned with technical ritual procedure and mantra-vidhi found in Vedāṅga-oriented instruction.