Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

प्रतिमाग्रे प्रमोदेन ग्रहभूतग्रहेषु च । चतुष्पथे तथा प्रोक्तं षट्सु दीपप्रदापनम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

pratimāgre pramodena grahabhūtagraheṣu ca | catuṣpathe tathā proktaṃ ṣaṭsu dīpapradāpanam || 30 ||

Translation

ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ଦେବପ୍ରତିମାର ଅଗ୍ରେ ଦୀପ ଅର୍ପଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ଗ୍ରହ ଓ ଭୂତ-ପ୍ରେତ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ମଧ୍ୟ। ଏହିପରି ଚତୁଷ୍ପଥରେ—ଏଭଳି ଛଅ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଦୀପଦାନ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୋକ୍ତ।

Word by Word

• प्रतिमा-अग्रे: in front of the idol
• प्रतिमा-अग्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) — ‘प्रतिमायाः अग्रे’ (in front of the image)

• प्रमोदेन: with joy
• प्रमोदेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental — ‘with joy’

• ग्रह-भूत-ग्रहेषु: in (cases of) planetary and spirit afflictions
• ग्रह-भूत-ग्रहेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (ग्रहाश्च भूताश्च) + ‘ग्रह’ (seizure/affliction) — ‘in planetary and spirit-possessions/afflictions’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुष्पथे: at a crossroads
• चतुष्पथे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative — ‘at the crossroads/four-way’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘likewise/also’

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

• षट्सु: in six (cases)
• षट्सु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; numeral adjective — ‘in six (places/occasions)’

• दीप-प्रदापनम्: the offering/lighting of a lamp
• दीप-प्रदापनम्: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) — ‘दीपस्य प्रदापनम्’ (offering/lighting of a lamp)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that dīpa-dāna (lamp-offering) is not merely decorative worship but a purificatory act to bring auspiciousness—performed joyfully and in specific sacred/liminal places to remove obstacles and invite divine light.

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

By emphasizing offering a lamp before the deity’s image with pramoda (gladness), it frames devotion as heartfelt service; the outer act becomes bhakti when done with reverence and positive intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) is implied through graha-related locations and remedies, showing how ritual actions like lamp-offering are used as traditional upāyas for planetary afflictions and unseen disturbances (bhūta).