Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

सन्निधौ स्फाटिके लिंगे शालग्रामस्य सन्निधौ । नानाभोगश्रियै प्रोक्तं दीपदानं हनूमतः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

sannidhau sphāṭike liṃge śālagrāmasya sannidhau | nānābhogaśriyai proktaṃ dīpadānaṃ hanūmataḥ || 31 ||

Translation

സ്ഫടികലിംഗത്തിന്റെ സന്നിധിയിലും ശാലഗ്രാമത്തിന്റെ സന്നിധിയിലും ദീപദാനം ശാസ്ത്രോക്തമാണ്. ഹനുമാൻ ഉപദേശിച്ചതുപോലെ, നാനാവിധ ഭോഗശ്രീ—അനേകം സുഖസമ്പത്തുകൾ—ലഭിക്കാനാണ് ഇത്.

Word by Word

• सन्निधौ: in the presence (of)
• सन्निधौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative — ‘in the presence/near’

• स्फाटिके: crystal
• स्फाटिके: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फाटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘लिङ्गे’ — ‘in the crystal (one)’

• लिङ्गे: at the liṅga
• लिङ्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative — ‘in/at the liṅga’

• शालग्रामस्य: of Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive — ‘of Śālagrāma’

• सन्निधौ: in the presence (of it)
• सन्निधौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative — ‘in the presence’

• नाना-भोग-श्रियै: for prosperity of various enjoyments
• नाना-भोग-श्रियै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘नानाभोगानां श्रीः’ (prosperity of various enjoyments); dative — ‘for (the sake of)’

• प्रोक्तम्: is prescribed
• प्रोक्तम्: कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is prescribed/said’

• दीप-दानम्: offering of a lamp
• दीप-दानम्: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘दीपस्य दानम्’ (gift/offering of a lamp)

• हनूमतः: of Hanumān
• हनूमतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive — ‘of Hanumān’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Shalagrama
• Linga

FAQs

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

It states that dīpadāna (offering a lamp) performed in the sacred proximity of worship-icons—especially a crystal liṅga and a Śālagrāma—becomes a potent act of puṇya, yielding prosperity and auspicious worldly well-being.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through upacāra (devotional service): offering light before revered forms (Śālagrāma and liṅga). The verse links simple devotional acts to tangible fruits, encouraging steady worship with faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice): the correct context/placement for dīpadāna—performed ‘in the presence’ of specific sacred icons—showing how procedure (vidhi) and setting are integral to the rite’s stated results (phala).