Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Dīpa-vidhi-vyākhyānam

Procedure for Lamp-Offering to Hanumān

Devanagari script

विलिख्य मध्ये मूर्तिं च महिषीगोमयेन वै । कृत्वा डमरुहस्तां च चकिताक्षीं प्रयत्नतः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

vilikhya madhye mūrtiṃ ca mahiṣīgomayena vai | kṛtvā ḍamaruhastāṃ ca cakitākṣīṃ prayatnataḥ || 72 ||

Translation

随后在所备之处的中央，应以水牛粪与牛粪谨慎描绘一尊形像；竭力塑成其手持ḍamaru小鼓、双目圆睁如受惊之相。

Word by Word

• विलिख्य: having drawn/inscribed
• विलिख्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्ग ‘वि-’ सहित

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• मूर्तिम्: an image/form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महिषी-गोमयेन: with buffalo-dung
• महिषी-गोमयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषी (प्रातिपदिक) + गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mahīṣyāḥ gomayam)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• डमरु-हस्ताम्: having a drum in (her) hand
• डमरु-हस्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: डमरु (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्याः हस्ते डमरुः सा) मूर्तेः विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• चकित-अक्षीम्: with startled eyes
• चकित-अक्षीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चकित (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्याः अक्षिणी चकिते सा) मूर्तेः विशेषणम्

• प्रयत्नतः: carefully/with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial ablative: ‘from effort’ = carefully)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/vidhi narration to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes precise ritual construction (vidhi): creating a consecrated iconographic form in the prescribed manner, using purified traditional materials like gomaya, to support the intended rite’s efficacy and protective power.

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

Though primarily procedural, it supports bhakti by prescribing careful, reverent preparation of a sacred form—external discipline that steadies attention and devotion during worship and observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual know-how (a Vedanga domain): correct materials, placement (“in the middle”), and iconographic specification, showing how technical precision is integral to performing rites.