Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

मषी लाक्षारसोद्भूता सर्वं वान्यत्स्फुटं मतम् । कृत्वा गोपीचदंनेन चतुरस्रं गृहं सुधीः ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

maṣī lākṣārasodbhūtā sarvaṃ vānyatsphuṭaṃ matam | kṛtvā gopīcadaṃnena caturasraṃ gṛhaṃ sudhīḥ || 64 ||

Translation

Ink prepared from lac-resin is recommended; and it is also held best that all else used for writing be clear and distinct. Having drawn a square enclosure with gopī-candana, the wise person should then proceed with the prescribed writing.

Word by Word

• मषी: ink/soot-black
• मषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लाक्षारस: lac-juice
• लाक्षारस: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाक्षा + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (लाक्षायाः रसः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिकरूप; समासपूर्वपद

• उद्भूता: produced from
• उद्भूता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-√भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘arisen/produced’, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with मषी

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘all’

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अन्यत्: other (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘other’

• स्फुटम्: clearly
• स्फुटम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial/adjectival ‘clearly’

• मतम्: is considered
• मतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having done/made’

• गोपीचन्दनेन: with gopī-candana
• गोपीचन्दनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपीचन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; instrumental ‘with gopī-candana’

• चतुरस्रम्: square/four-sided
• चतुरस्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (चतुर्-अस्र = four-cornered), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying गृहम्

• गृहम्: house
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सुधीः: a wise man
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘wise person’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Vedanga/technical sciences section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It links technical practice with sacred discipline: the act of writing (especially for ritual or dharmic purposes) should be done with purity, clarity, and a consecrated space, reflecting reverence for knowledge.

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

By prescribing gopī-candana and careful preparation, it treats writing as a devotional act—creating a sanctified setting before recording teachings, names, or mantras associated with worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural know-how connected to technical disciplines—preparing durable ink (lac-resin) and setting a precise, marked writing area (a square boundary) for clear, correct inscription.