Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

कृष्णमुञ्चाटने द्वेषेऽरुणं मारणकर्मणि । कूटतुल्यपलं तैलं गुरुकार्ये शिवैर्गुणम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇamuñcāṭane dveṣe'ruṇaṃ māraṇakarmaṇi | kūṭatulyapalaṃ tailaṃ gurukārye śivairguṇam || 26 ||

Translation

Für Riten des Vertreibens (muncāṭana) soll man schwarze Stoffe verwenden; für Handlungen aus Feindschaft rotes; und bei auf Vernichtung zielenden Operationen wird ebenfalls das vorgeschriebene Rot gebraucht. Öl im Maß von einem pala, dem Gewicht eines kūṭa gleich, gilt als wirksam und mit glückverheißenden Eigenschaften versehen für gewichtige und wichtige Vorhaben.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-muñcāṭane: in the black rite (muñcāṭana)
• kṛṣṇa-muñcāṭane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + muñcāṭana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; 'kṛṣṇasya muñcāṭane' (in blackening/black rite)

• dveṣe: in hatred/hostility
• dveṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana

• aruṇam: reddish
• aruṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; predicative adjective (varṇa)

• māraṇa-karmaṇi: in the act/rite of killing (māraṇa)
• māraṇa-karmaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māraṇa + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; 'māraṇasya karmaṇi'

• kūṭa-tulya-palam: a pala equal to a kūṭa (measure)
• kūṭa-tulya-palam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kūṭa + tulya + pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; 'kūṭena tulyam palam' (a pala equal to a kūṭa)

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana

• guru-kārye: in a teacher’s matter/for the guru’s purpose
• guru-kārye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; 'guroḥ kārye'

• śivaiḥ: with auspicious (means)
• śivaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/Instrumental), Bahuvacana; used adverbially as 'with auspicious (things/qualities)'

• guṇam: a quality/merit
• guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; predicative/object complement

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ritual actions (prayoga) are governed by precise correspondences—such as color and measurement—so that intention, material, and procedure align; this reflects the Purana’s technical, Vedanga-adjacent discipline in sacred practice.

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

Indirectly: it shows that even technical rites require regulated conduct and exactness; in the Narada Purana framework, disciplined, dharmic practice supports a mind fit for devotion, though the verse itself focuses on ritual procedure rather than explicit Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical ritual science: selecting materials by prescribed attributes (e.g., color) and using traditional weight measures (pala, kūṭa) for preparing substances like oil—details typical of prayoga manuals and allied technical disciplines.