Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
ग्राम्येण वापि तैलेन राजन्नन्येन वा पुनः । दीपं दत्त्वा महाविष्णोः शिवस्यापि फलं शृणु ॥ ६६ ॥
grāmyeṇa vāpi tailena rājannanyena vā punaḥ | dīpaṃ dattvā mahāviṣṇoḥ śivasyāpi phalaṃ śṛṇu || 66 ||
Ô roi, qu’il s’agisse d’une huile ordinaire ou d’une autre, après avoir offert une lampe à Mahāviṣṇu, écoute aussi le fruit du mérite lorsqu’elle est offerte à Śiva.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that the devotional act of offering a lamp (dīpa-dāna) is efficacious even when done with simple, commonly available oil, emphasizing sincerity over luxury, and it introduces the merit associated with such worship for both Viṣṇu and Śiva.
Bhakti here is expressed through a tangible act of worship—lighting and offering a lamp—showing that accessible, heartfelt service to the deity (Mahāviṣṇu, and also Śiva) is a valid and potent devotional path.
Ritual practicality is highlighted: the verse focuses on upacāra (worship offering) and dāna procedure—choosing an available oil and offering a lamp—rather than technical Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.