Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

सिंहासनस्थां तां नत्वा तज्जलं प्रणमेत्सुधीः । आधारः सर्वभूतानां विष्णोरतुलतेजसः ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

siṃhāsanasthāṃ tāṃ natvā tajjalaṃ praṇametsudhīḥ | ādhāraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ || 32 ||

Translation

เมื่อกราบนอบน้อมแด่เทวีผู้ประทับบนสิงหาสน์แล้ว ผู้มีปัญญาพึงนอบน้อมต่อน้ำนั้นด้วย เพราะน้ำนั้นเป็นที่รองรับสรรพสัตว์ อันสังกัดพระวิษณุผู้มีรัศมีหาที่เปรียบมิได้

Word by Word

• सिंहासन-स्थाम्: seated on the lion-throne
• सिंहासन-स्थाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंहासन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘seated/standing on a lion-throne’ (qualifies ‘ताम्’)

• ताम्: her/that (deity)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having bowed’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘जलम्’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रणमेत्: should bow to / salute
• प्रणमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

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

• आधारः: support/basis
• आधारः: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विशेष्य), एकवचन; (nominal sentence)

• सर्व-भूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्व-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘all beings’

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अतुल-तेजसः: of (him) whose splendor is incomparable
• अतुल-तेजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तेजस्), षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘of incomparable splendor’ (qualifies ‘विष्णोः’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Vedanga/ritual-technical context to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches reverence for sacred water as a Vishnu-connected support of life itself—honoring it becomes a direct act of devotion toward Vishnu’s sustaining power.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through bodily humility (bowing) and ritual respect—saluting the divine presence and even the sanctified medium (water) as belonging to Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual propriety (prayoga): the correct sequence of honoring the presiding divinity and then the sanctified water, emphasizing purity and respectful handling in religious procedures.