Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

घृतेन दीपं दत्त्वाथ पायसान्नं निवेदयेत् । गगनं दीपिकेंद्वाढ्यां शास्त्रं च पुरतो जपेत् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

ghṛtena dīpaṃ dattvātha pāyasānnaṃ nivedayet | gaganaṃ dīpikeṃdvāḍhyāṃ śāstraṃ ca purato japet || 74 ||

Translation

Nachdem man eine Lampe mit Ghee dargebracht hat, soll man sodann Pāyasa (süßen Milchreis) als Speiseopfer darbringen. Wenn der Himmel von Lampen und Mondlicht erhellt ist, rezitiere man das heilige Śāstra vor (dem Altar).

Word by Word

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दीपम्: a lamp
• दीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given/offered
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sequence particle)

• पायस-अन्नम्: sweet rice (payasa-food)
• पायस-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (rice/food of payasa = sweet rice)

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वेद्/विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गगनम्: the sky/space (as a mantra/word)
• गगनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• दीपिका-इन्दु-आढ्याम्: abounding in lamps and moon(-like lights)
• दीपिका-इन्दु-आढ्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपिका (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (दीपिकाभिः इन्दुभिः वा आढ्या—‘rich with lamps/moon(-like lights)’)

• शास्त्रम्: scripture/treatise
• शास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; indeclinable form meaning ‘in front’)

• जपेत्: should recite/mutter
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It presents a concise puja-sequence: offering a ghee-lamp (symbolizing illumination of knowledge and sattva), offering naivedya (devotional surrender), and concluding with śāstra-recitation (anchoring worship in revealed wisdom).

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

Bhakti is expressed through tangible upacāras—dīpa-dāna and naivedya—followed by reverent recitation of śāstra before the object of worship, showing that devotion is both heartfelt service and disciplined remembrance through sacred words.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights procedural ritual order and correct recitation practice (japa/adhyāyana) in a worship setting—key applied aspects associated with Vedanga-informed discipline, especially the regulated use of mantra/text in ritual contexts.