Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

केचिदिच्छंति देवर्षे तद्विधानं वदामि ते । हैमं निर्माय गणपं ताम्रपात्रोपरि स्थितम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

kecidicchaṃti devarṣe tadvidhānaṃ vadāmi te | haimaṃ nirmāya gaṇapaṃ tāmrapātropari sthitam || 18 ||

Translation

Manche wünschen dies, o göttlicher Weiser; ich will dir die rechte Vorschrift darlegen. Nachdem man ein goldenes Bildnis des Gaṇapa (Gaṇeśa) gefertigt hat, soll man es auf ein Kupfergefäß stellen.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (some)

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• विधानम्: procedure, method
• विधानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वदामि: I tell
• वदामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; (तुभ्यम्-आदेशरूप)

• हैमम्: golden
• हैमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘golden’ (qualifying गणपम्)

• निर्माय: having made
• निर्माय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निर्मा (नि+मा, धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), अव्यय; ‘having fashioned/made’

• गणपम्: Gaṇeśa (image)
• गणपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; (गणपः = गणपति-प्रतिमा/गणेशः)

• ताम्रपात्रोपरि: upon a copper vessel/plate
• ताम्रपात्रोपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ताम्रपात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः (on top of a copper vessel/plate)

• स्थितम्: placed, situated
• स्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (गणपम्) विशेषयति

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dūrvā-Gaṇapati vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Ganapa (Ganesha)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes vidhi (correct procedure) in worship: devotion is supported by proper ritual placement and materials, indicating reverence and order in sacred acts.

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

Bhakti here takes a practical form—devotion expressed through careful preparation of the deity’s form and a respectful installation, showing that love for the divine is enacted through disciplined worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse points to prescribed materials and placement rules (a golden image set upon a copper vessel), reflecting technical ritual know-how.