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

Inilah dinyatakan sebagai mantra saṅkalpa bagi pelita upacara, disusun menurut tata letak di atas tanah pada dua arah. Ia merangkumi Praṇava (Oṁ), suku kata “pāśa” dan “māyā”, serta “śikhā” dan huruf-huruf “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.