Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

तिलतैलं श्रियः प्राप्त्यै पथिकागमनं प्रति । अतसीतैलमुद्दिष्टं वश्यकर्मणि निश्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tilatailaṃ śriyaḥ prāptyai pathikāgamanaṃ prati | atasītailamuddiṣṭaṃ vaśyakarmaṇi niścitam || 4 ||

Translation

L’huile de sésame est prescrite pour obtenir la prospérité et pour favoriser l’arrivée d’un voyageur. L’huile de lin (linseed) est indiquée tout spécialement et tenue pour efficace dans les rites d’attraction (vaśya-karman).

Word by Word

• tila-tailam: sesame oil
• tila-tailam: Karma (कर्म/thing prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (तिलस्य तैलम्)

• śriyaḥ: of prosperity; of Lakṣmī
• śriyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• prāptyai: for attainment
• prāptyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative

• pathika-āgamanam: the coming of a traveler
• pathika-āgamanam: Karma (कर्म/aim-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathika (प्रातिपदिक) + āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (पथिकस्य आगमनम्)

• prati: towards; for
• prati: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), preposition-like; governs accusative; sense: 'towards/for the sake of'

• atasī-tailam: linseed (flax) oil
• atasī-tailam: Karma (कर्म/thing prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atasī (प्रातिपदिक) + taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (अतस्याः तैलम्)

• uddiṣṭam: is prescribed; is indicated
• uddiṣṭam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-diś (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (कृत्: क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate: 'is prescribed/indicated'

• vaśya-karmaṇi: in acts of subjugation/attraction
• vaśya-karmaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (वश्यं कर्म)

• niścitam: is निश्चित/settled; certain
• niścitam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√ci (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (कृत्: क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective reinforcing uddiṣṭam

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It classifies ritual substances by their intended results—prosperity (śrī) and specific outcomes like the return of a traveler—reflecting the text’s technical (vedāṅga-aligned) approach to applied dharma.

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

Indirectly: it shows that worldly aims (prosperity, reunion) are addressed through regulated rites, which in the Purāṇic framework are ideally performed with reverence and ethical restraint, supporting a disciplined devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical ritual science—selection of materials (oils) according to desired phala (result), a procedural detail aligned with kalpa-style ritual methodology found within the Narada Purana’s technical sections.