Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

मालामंत्रेण दातव्यं दीपदानं हनूमतः । नित्यदीपः प्रकर्त्तव्यो द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

mālāmaṃtreṇa dātavyaṃ dīpadānaṃ hanūmataḥ | nityadīpaḥ prakarttavyo dvādaśākṣaravidyayā || 44 ||

Translation

Bagi Hanumān, persembahan pelita hendaklah dilakukan dengan mantra tasbih (mālā-mantra); dan pelita yang sentiasa menyala hendaklah ditegakkan melalui vidyā suci dua belas suku kata (dvādaśākṣara).

Word by Word

• माला-मन्त्रेण: with the garland-mantra (japa)
• माला-मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मालायाः मन्त्रः)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘is to be given’

• दीप-दानम्: lamp-offering
• दीप-दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दीपस्य दानम्)

• हनूमतः: of Hanuman
• हनूमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• नित्य-दीपः: a perpetual lamp
• नित्य-दीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (नित्यः दीपः)

• प्रकर्तव्यः: should be arranged/performed
• प्रकर्तव्यः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘should be performed/made’

• द्वादश-अक्षर-विद्यया: with the twelve-syllabled mantra/vidyā
• द्वादश-अक्षर-विद्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अक्षर + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्वादशाक्षरिणी विद्या)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman

FAQs

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

It frames lamp-offering to Hanumān as a mantra-governed act: light becomes a sustained symbol of devotion and vigilance, and the “perpetual lamp” represents uninterrupted bhakti supported by a prescribed sacred formula.

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

Bhakti here is practical and continuous: devotion is expressed through dīpadāna (service and reverence) and stabilized through regular mantra-application, culminating in an unbroken practice signified by the nitya-dīpa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-vidhi and ritual precision are emphasized—how a specific mantra (mālā-mantra) and a defined metrical/mantric unit (dvādaśākṣara-vidyā) govern the correct performance of worship and daily observance.