Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

गोमयं द्विविधं तत्र प्रोक्तं गोमहिषीभवम् । पश्चाद्विनष्टद्रव्याप्तौ माहिषं गोमयं स्मृतम् ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

gomayaṃ dvividhaṃ tatra proktaṃ gomahiṣībhavam | paścādvinaṣṭadravyāptau māhiṣaṃ gomayaṃ smṛtam || 60 ||

Translation

Dort wird gelehrt, dass Kuhdung zweierlei ist: aus der Kuh und aus dem Büffel stammend. Wenn später die rechte Substanz nicht verfügbar ist oder verloren ging, soll Büffeldung als „Kuhdung“ gelten, als zulässiger Ersatz.

Word by Word

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• द्विविधम्: twofold
• द्विविधम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with गोमयम्

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• गोमहिषीभवम्: arising from cow and buffalo(-cow)
• गोमहिषीभवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो + महिषी + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (गोमहिष्योः भवम् = arising from cow and buffalo-cow), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying गोमयम्

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• विनष्ट: lost
• विनष्ट: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√नश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकरूप; समासपूर्वपद; ‘lost/destroyed’

• द्रव्याप्तौ: in the acquisition of (lost) goods
• द्रव्याप्तौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (द्रव्यस्य आप्तिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative ‘in the obtaining of substance’

• माहिषम्: buffalo (dung)
• माहिषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘buffalo(-related)’ qualifying गोमयम्

• गोमयम्: cow-dung (dung)
• गोमयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is regarded
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/considered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

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 Dharma as practical purity (śauca): when ideal ritual materials are unavailable, tradition allows a sanctioned substitute so that purification and duty can still be maintained without breaking scriptural intent.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-based living by teaching that sincere practice should continue even amid constraints; regulated substitutes preserve the spirit of worship and purity rather than abandoning observance due to lack of materials.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (prayoga) and the principle of pratinidhi (authorized substitution) used in Dharma-śāstra style guidance—how to classify materials and what to adopt when the primary dravya is unobtainable.