Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

पश्चात्प्रमाणतो ज्ञेयं कुमारीहस्तपेषणम् । तत्पिष्टं शुद्धपात्रे तु नदीतोयेन पिंडितम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

paścātpramāṇato jñeyaṃ kumārīhastapeṣaṇam | tatpiṣṭaṃ śuddhapātre tu nadītoyena piṃḍitam || 20 ||

Translation

Next, one should know the procedure according to the proper measure: the grinding is to be done by the hand of a maiden. That paste, placed in a pure vessel, should then be kneaded into a single lump with river-water.

Word by Word

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb: afterwards)

• प्रमाणतः: according to the measure
• प्रमाणतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘प्रमाणतः’ = प्रमाणेन/प्रमाणानुसारम् (according to measure)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (यत्) भाव्य/विधेयार्थ; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (to be known/should be known)

• कुमारी-हस्त-पेषणम्: grinding by a maiden’s hand
• कुमारी-हस्त-पेषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पेषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुमारीहस्तस्य पेषणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (that)

• पिष्टम्: ground (paste/flour)
• पिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ground’

• शुद्ध-पात्रे: in a clean vessel
• शुद्ध-पात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (शुद्धं पात्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (in a clean vessel)

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

• नदी-तोयेन: with river water
• नदी-तोयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नद्याः तोयम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (with river-water)

• पिण्डितम्: made into a lump
• पिण्डितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्ड् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘made into a lump/kneaded’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within the Vedanga/technical-ritual section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes pramāṇa (correct measure and method) and śauca (purity): ritual efficacy is linked to disciplined procedure—pure materials, clean vessels, and properly prepared substances.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by teaching careful, reverent preparation for worship—devotion is expressed through meticulous, pure service (seva) and adherence to prescribed method.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style procedural knowledge: exact measurements, qualified performance (specified agent), and purity protocols (clean vessel, river-water) in preparing ritual materials.