Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

दीपसंकल्पमंत्रोऽयं कथ्यते द्वीषुभूमितः । प्रणवः पाशमाये च शिखा कार्ताक्षराणि च ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

dīpasaṃkalpamaṃtro'yaṃ kathyate dvīṣubhūmitaḥ | praṇavaḥ pāśamāye ca śikhā kārtākṣarāṇi ca || 84 ||

Translation

On déclare que voici le mantra de saṅkalpa pour la lampe rituelle, exposé selon la disposition au sol dans les deux directions : il comprend le Praṇava (Oṁ), les syllabes « pāśa » et « māyā », ainsi que « śikhā » et les lettres « kārta ».

Word by Word

• दीपसंकल्पमन्त्रः: the lamp-intention mantra
• दीपसंकल्पमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + संकल्प + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (दीपस्य संकल्पः—तस्य मन्त्रः / दीपसंकल्पस्य मन्त्रः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथ्यते: is stated/told
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• द्वीषु: in the islands
• द्वीषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भूमितः: from the ground
• भूमितः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘भूमितः’ = from the earth/ground (i.e., from the base)

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाशमाये: in/with the ‘pāśa-māyā’ (pāśa-mantra segment)
• पाशमाये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (पाशस्य माया)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• शिखा: the śikhā (crest/śikhā-mantra part)
• शिखा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कार्ताक्षराणि: the ‘kārta’ syllables/letters
• कार्ताक्षराणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (कार्तानि अक्षराणि / कार्त-सम्बद्धानि अक्षराणि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even a simple act like offering or consecrating a lamp becomes spiritually potent when performed with a precise saṅkalpa and correctly formed mantra, anchored in sacred sound (Praṇava) and ritual phonetics.

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

By prescribing a saṅkalpa-mantra for lamp worship, it supports bhakti through disciplined devotional ritual—making the offering intentional, reverent, and aligned with scriptural mantra-vidhi.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga-oriented technicality—especially Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-usage—through named syllable sets (akṣara), the Praṇava, and structured placement/recitation connected to ritual layout.