Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

तालेन च चतुर्द्वारं गृहं कृत्वा सुशोभनम् । पूर्वद्वारे गजः स्थाप्यो दक्षिणे महिषस्तथा ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

tālena ca caturdvāraṃ gṛhaṃ kṛtvā suśobhanam | pūrvadvāre gajaḥ sthāpyo dakṣiṇe mahiṣastathā || 70 ||

Translation

Selon la mesure du tāla, qu’on bâtisse une demeure belle et propice, pourvue de quatre portails. À la porte de l’est, qu’on place l’éléphant, et à celle du sud, de même, le buffle.

Word by Word

• तालेन: with a palm-tree (wood)/with a tāla-post
• तालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• चतुः-द्वारम्: four-doored
• चतुः-द्वारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• गृहम्: house
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• सु-शोभनम्: very beautiful
• सु-शोभनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (intensifying: ‘very beautiful’)

• पूर्व-द्वारे: at the eastern door
• पूर्व-द्वारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (directional)

• गजः: an elephant
• गजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्थाप्यः: should be placed
• स्थाप्यः: Vidhi/Karya (विधि/कार्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be placed)

• दक्षिणे: in the south (at the southern side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन (elliptic: ‘at the southern [door]’)

• महिषः: a buffalo
• महिषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical/ritual principles within the Vedanga-aligned section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaja (Elephant)
• Mahiṣa (Buffalo)

FAQs

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

It frames house-building as a dharmic act governed by sacred proportion (tāla) and directionality, where installing symbolic guardians at specific gates supports auspiciousness and orderly living aligned with śāstra.

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, it supports devotional life indirectly by prescribing a harmonious, consecration-friendly dwelling—an environment considered conducive to daily worship, purity, and regular ritual observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied technical śāstra: proportional measurement (tāla) and directional placement rules (dik-vinyāsa), themes commonly treated alongside auxiliary disciplines used for correct ritual and sacred design.