Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

नरोन दीपकशिखौच्यभक्तो ह्यथ भोद्वने । शंकौनृदीपाधश्छिद्रघ्नैर्दीपौच्च्यं नरान्विते ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

narona dīpakaśikhaucyabhakto hyatha bhodvane | śaṃkaunṛdīpādhaśchidraghnairdīpauccyaṃ narānvite || 57 ||

Translation

ومن كان مُتعبِّدًا بحفظِ لهيبِ المصباح مرفوعًا ثابتًا، فليضع في الغابة أغطيةً واقية تحت قاعدة المصباح. وباستعمال مقاييس تزيل العيوب (كالفُرَج والتسرّب)، يُحفَظ المصباح على ارتفاعه اللائق ويغدو آمنًا بين الناس.

Word by Word

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• दीपक-शिखा-औच्य-भक्तः: apportioned by the height of the lamp-flame
• दीपक-शिखा-औच्य-भक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपक (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + औच्य/उच्च (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त; √भज् धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'divided according to the height of the lamp-flame'

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (emphasis/causal)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sequential particle 'then/now'

• भो: O!
• भो: Sambodhana-sūcaka (सम्बोधनसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vocative particle

• द्वने: O (sir)
• द्वने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; reading uncertain (possibly 'द्विजने/द्विज' intended)

• शङ्कु-नृ-दीप-अधः-छिद्र-घ्नैः: by the lower-hole-determining (standards) of gnomon/man/lamp
• शङ्कु-नृ-दीप-अधः-छिद्र-घ्नैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक) + नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + अधः (अव्यय) + छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'by the (measures) that determine the lower hole beneath the lamp/gnomon and man (standard)'

• दीप-औच्यम्: the height of the lamp
• दीप-औच्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + औच्य/उच्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'lamp-height'

• नर-अन्विते: O (one) accompanied by men
• नर-अन्विते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √अन्वि/अनु-इ धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'accompanied by men' (address)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the teaching as part of the Moksha-dharma discourse attributed to the Narada Purana tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined care in devotional acts—keeping the lamp properly placed and free from defects symbolizes steadiness, attentiveness, and purity in worship.

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

Bhakti here is shown as careful service (seva): maintaining the lamp-flame properly and removing practical faults reflects sincere, detail-oriented devotion rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with ritual procedure (kalpa-style practicality): ensuring correct placement and removing defects in offerings—an applied, technical approach to worship conduct.