Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

चतुर्विधा मृत्तिका तु श्वेता पीतारुणासिता । तत्र गोपीचंदनं तु हरितालं च गौरिकम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

caturvidhā mṛttikā tu śvetā pītāruṇāsitā | tatra gopīcaṃdanaṃ tu haritālaṃ ca gaurikam || 63 ||

Translation

Rituelle Erde ist viererlei: weiß, gelb, rot und schwarz. Dazu werden auch gopīcandana, haritāla und gaurikā gezählt, besondere Erden bzw. Minerale für heilige Zeichen und Riten.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विधा: fourfold
• चतुर्विधा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/द्विगुसदृश (चतुर्णां विधा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with मृत्तिका

• मृत्तिका: clay/earth
• मृत्तिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• श्वेता: white
• श्वेता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective (one kind)

• पीता: yellow
• पीता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective (one kind)

• अरुणा: reddish
• अरुणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective (one kind)

• असिता: black
• असिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective (one kind)

• तत्र: there/among them
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• गोपीचन्दनम्: gopī-candana (sacred clay)
• गोपीचन्दनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (गोपी-चन्दनम् = ‘gopī-sandal’, a kind of clay), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक

• हरितालम्: orpiment (yellow mineral)
• हरितालम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• गौरिकम्: gaurika (a kind of earth/pigment)
• गौरिकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It defines approved ritual earths by color and name, emphasizing purity and correct material selection in sacred observances (tilaka, vows, and ceremonial acts), where substance-choice supports sanctity and right practice.

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

By pointing to gopīcandana and related sacred materials used for devotional markings and worship-preparation, it frames bhakti as disciplined practice—honoring the deity through proper external signs and ritual purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, ritual-application classification of mṛttikā (earth/clay) by type and recognized names—useful for karmakāṇḍa procedure and vrata observance, aligning materials with prescribed standards.