Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

प्रदीपानां सहस्रेण शतेनाप्यथवा द्विज । प्रदीपयेच्छिवं वापि द्वात्रिंशद्दीपमालया ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

pradīpānāṃ sahasreṇa śatenāpyathavā dvija | pradīpayecchivaṃ vāpi dvātriṃśaddīpamālayā || 49 ||

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജ, ആയിരം ദീപങ്ങളാലോ—അല്ലെങ്കിൽ നൂറ് ദീപങ്ങളാലോ—ശിവനെ പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കണം; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മുപ്പത്തിരണ്ട് ദീപങ്ങളുടെ മാലയാലും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ദീപ്തമാക്കാം।

Word by Word

• pradīpānām: of lamps
• pradīpānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sahasreṇa: with a thousand (lamps)
• sahasreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• śatena: with a hundred (lamps)
• śatena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• pradīpayet: should illuminate
• pradīpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dīp (दीप् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• dvātriṃśat-dīpa-mālayā: with a garland/row of thirty-two lamps
• dvātriṃśat-dīpa-mālayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक) + dīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘garland/row of (32) lamps’ (संख्या-विशेषणपूर्वक)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dīpa-mālā/dīpa-dāna for Śiva (Ūrja/Kārttika trayodaśī-pradoṣa sequence, contextually)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches dīpa-dāna (offering of light) as a concrete act of devotion: illuminating the deity symbolizes dispelling inner darkness and generating religious merit through disciplined worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through upacāra (devotional service) in pūjā—lighting many lamps (or a defined deepamālā) as a heartfelt, visible offering that honors Śiva and steadies the devotee’s intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and counting/arrangement of offerings (a kalpa-style practical rule): the verse specifies acceptable quantities (100, 1000, or a 32-lamp garland) for a formal lamp-offering in worship.