Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

विप्रपादोदकं पीत्वा शालग्रामशिलाजलम् । पिबेद्विरुद्धं नो कुर्यादेषां तु नियतो विधिः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

viprapādodakaṃ pītvā śālagrāmaśilājalam | pibedviruddhaṃ no kuryādeṣāṃ tu niyato vidhiḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Trước hết hãy uống nước rửa chân của vị brāhmaṇa, rồi sau đó uống nước liên hệ với đá Śālagrāma. Chớ xem hai điều ấy là trái nghịch nhau; vì đối với chúng có nghi thức và quy tắc cố định đã được quy định.

Word by Word

• vipra-pāda-udakam: water from (washing) a brāhmaṇa’s feet
• vipra-pāda-udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'of a brāhmaṇa' + 'foot' + 'water' = water (used for washing) the brāhmaṇa's feet

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/त्वान्त), 'having drunk'

• śālagrāma-śilā-jalam: water (from) the Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāma-śilā-jalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: water of the Śālagrāma stone

• pibet: should drink
• pibet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Singular (एकवचन)

• viruddham: incompatible (combination)
• viruddham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viruddha (प्रातिपदिक; from √rudh with vi-, past participle sense)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially/object-complement: 'in an incompatible way/combination'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Singular (एकवचन)

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• niyataḥ: fixed, prescribed
• niyataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies 'vidhiḥ'

• vidhiḥ: rule, injunction
• vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Śālagrāma (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It affirms the sanctity of two revered substances—brāhmaṇa foot-wash water and Śālagrāma-associated water—and teaches that, when followed in the prescribed order, they are spiritually harmonious rather than conflicting.

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

By highlighting Śālagrāma-jala (linked to Viṣṇu) and reverence to brāhmaṇas, the verse frames bhakti as expressed through disciplined sacred practice (ācāra) and honor to Viṣṇu’s symbols and His devotees.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual hermeneutics—how to resolve apparent “viruddha” (incompatibility) through niyata-vidhi (a specific procedural rule), a key principle in Dharma-śāstra style application of injunctions.