Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

भवेत्रिषवणस्नायी नखश्मश्रुजटाधरः । अधः शायी ब्रह्मचारी पञ्चयज्ञपरायणः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

bhavetriṣavaṇasnāyī nakhaśmaśrujaṭādharaḥ | adhaḥ śāyī brahmacārī pañcayajñaparāyaṇaḥ || 86 ||

Translation

他应于一日三次交时（sandhyā）沐浴，指甲（与头发）及胡须不加修剪，披持结发（jaṭā）；当卧地而眠，行梵行如梵行学生（brahmacārī），并专心奉行五大日常祭（pañca-yajña）。

Word by Word

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• त्रि-सवण-स्नायी: one who bathes thrice daily
• त्रि-सवण-स्नायी: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: त्रिषु सवणेषु स्नायी = one who bathes at the three daily times

• नख-श्मश्रु-जटा-धरः: wearing nails, beard, and matted locks (unkempt)
• नख-श्मश्रु-जटा-धरः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: नखं श्मश्रु जटां च धरति इति (one who keeps nails, beard, and matted hair)

• अधः: on the ground/below
• अधः: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: down/below)

• शायी: sleeping (one who sleeps)
• शायी: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); कृदन्त: णिनि/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun) from धातु शी (to lie/sleep): one who sleeps

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: ब्रह्मणि/वेदे चरति इति

• पञ्च-यज्ञ-परायणः: devoted to the five daily sacrifices
• पञ्च-यज्ञ-परायणः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः: पञ्चयज्ञेषु परायणः = devoted to the five sacrifices

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

FAQs

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

It defines a vrata-like standard of purity and restraint—tri-sandhya bathing, austerity, and pañca-mahāyajña—meant to steady the mind and make daily life itself a continuous sacrifice.

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

By prescribing disciplined conduct (brahmacarya, simplicity, nitya-karmas), it builds the inner cleanliness and steadiness that support sustained remembrance and worship—key foundations for mature Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The timing of tri-sandhya practices reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa-informed daily junctions (sandhyā), while pañca-yajñas summarize household and social duties as a structured nitya-karma framework.