Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

कृष्णमुञ्चाटने द्वेषेऽरुणं मारणकर्मणि । कूटतुल्यपलं तैलं गुरुकार्ये शिवैर्गुणम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇamuñcāṭane dveṣe'ruṇaṃ māraṇakarmaṇi | kūṭatulyapalaṃ tailaṃ gurukārye śivairguṇam || 26 ||

Translation

追い払いの作法（ムンチャータナ）には黒きものを用い、怨みより起こる行には赤を用いる。また滅却を目的とする作法にも、定められた赤が用いられる。油は一パラ、クータと等しい重さに量るべしとされ、重大な事業において吉祥の徳を備え効験ありと説かれる。

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇa-muñcāṭane: in the black rite (muñcāṭana)
• kṛṣṇa-muñcāṭane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + muñcāṭana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; 'kṛṣṇasya muñcāṭane' (in blackening/black rite)

• dveṣe: in hatred/hostility
• dveṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana

• aruṇam: reddish
• aruṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; predicative adjective (varṇa)

• māraṇa-karmaṇi: in the act/rite of killing (māraṇa)
• māraṇa-karmaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māraṇa + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; 'māraṇasya karmaṇi'

• kūṭa-tulya-palam: a pala equal to a kūṭa (measure)
• kūṭa-tulya-palam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kūṭa + tulya + pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; 'kūṭena tulyam palam' (a pala equal to a kūṭa)

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana

• guru-kārye: in a teacher’s matter/for the guru’s purpose
• guru-kārye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; 'guroḥ kārye'

• śivaiḥ: with auspicious (means)
• śivaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/Instrumental), Bahuvacana; used adverbially as 'with auspicious (things/qualities)'

• guṇam: a quality/merit
• guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; predicative/object complement

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ritual actions (prayoga) are governed by precise correspondences—such as color and measurement—so that intention, material, and procedure align; this reflects the Purana’s technical, Vedanga-adjacent discipline in sacred practice.

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

Indirectly: it shows that even technical rites require regulated conduct and exactness; in the Narada Purana framework, disciplined, dharmic practice supports a mind fit for devotion, though the verse itself focuses on ritual procedure rather than explicit Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical ritual science: selecting materials by prescribed attributes (e.g., color) and using traditional weight measures (pala, kūṭa) for preparing substances like oil—details typical of prayoga manuals and allied technical disciplines.