Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

सार्षापं रोगनाशाय कथितं कर्मकोविदैः । मारणे राजिकोत्थं वा विभीतकसमुद्भवम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

sārṣāpaṃ roganāśāya kathitaṃ karmakovidaiḥ | māraṇe rājikotthaṃ vā vibhītakasamudbhavam || 5 ||

Translation

امراض کے ازالے کے لیے اہلِ کرم نے سرسوں سے بنی تیاری بتائی ہے۔ مگر مارن کے عمل میں کالی سرسوں سے بنا ہوا یا درختِ بَہِیڑا (وِبھیتک) سے حاصل شے بیان کی گئی ہے۔

Word by Word

• सार्षापम्: mustard (oil/seed)
• सार्षापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्षाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रोगनाशाय: for the destruction of disease
• रोगनाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग-नाश (प्रातिपदिक; रोग + नाश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)

• कथितम्: is said/declared
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• कर्मकोविदैः: by those skilled in rites/actions
• कर्मकोविदैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म-कोविद (प्रातिपदिक; कर्म + कोविद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश), बहुवचन; agent in passive construction

• मारणे: in the act/rite of killing
• मारणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विषय/प्रयोगे ‘in (the rite of) killing’

• राजिकोत्थम्: arising from mustard (rājikā)
• राजिकोत्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजिका-उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक; राजिका + उत्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied substance like taila)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• विभीतकसमुद्भवम्: originating from bibhītaka
• विभीतकसमुद्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीतक-समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक; विभीतक + समुद्भव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (as part of a technical exposition within the Vedanga/ritual-science section; traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It distinguishes dharmic, welfare-oriented applications (removal of disease) from harmful, destructive rites, showing that technical knowledge must be governed by ethical intent.

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

Indirectly: by implying that power-oriented rites (like māraṇa) are spiritually inferior to sattvic, compassionate aims; Bhakti traditions emphasize non-harm and reliance on divine grace over coercive ritual power.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Applied ritual science (karma-kāṇḍa prayoga): identifying specific substances (sarṣapa, rājikā, bibhītaka) and their intended ritual outcomes—an example of technical procedural knowledge used in rites.