Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

विप्राय बटवे दद्याद्गंधपुष्पार्चिताय च । तंडुला वैश्वदैवत्या हरदैवत्यमिश्रिताः ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

viprāya baṭave dadyādgaṃdhapuṣpārcitāya ca | taṃḍulā vaiśvadaivatyā haradaivatyamiśritāḥ || 42 ||

Translation

Man soll Reis als Gabe einem Brāhmaṇa oder einem jungen Brahmacārin-Schüler geben, nachdem man ihn mit Sandelduft und Blumen geehrt hat. Dieser Reis sei den Viśvedevas geweiht und mit dem vermischt, was Hara (Śiva) dargebracht wird.

Word by Word

• विप्राय: to a brāhmaṇa
• विप्राय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• बटवे: to a young brahmacārin (boy)
• बटवे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• गन्ध-पुष्प-अर्चिताय: to one worshipped with fragrance and flowers
• गन्ध-पुष्प-अर्चिताय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चित (अर्च्-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘अर्चित’ = worshipped; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गन्धैः पुष्पैः अर्चितः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तण्डुलाः: rice grains
• तण्डुलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वैश्व-दैवत्याः: belonging to the Viśvedevas
• वैश्व-दैवत्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दैवत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विश्वदेवताः यस्य/येषां)

• हर-दैवत्य-मिश्रिताः: mixed with (that) of Hara (Śiva) as deity
• हर-दैवत्य-मिश्रिताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + दैवत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्रित (मिश्र्-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘मिश्रित’ = mixed; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हरदैवत्येन मिश्रिताः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishvedevas
• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It frames charity (dāna) as a sanctified act: honoring a worthy recipient with fragrance and flowers and then giving consecrated rice, thereby converting a material gift into ritual merit (puṇya) through deity-linked intention.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through reverential service—worshipful honoring (arcana) of the recipient and offering food-grains with a deity-conscious dedication, turning giving into devotional remembrance rather than mere social generosity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual procedure: recipient qualification (brāhmaṇa/brahmacārin), preliminary honor (gandha-puṣpa arcana), and deity-specific consecration (Viśvedevas/Hara) governing how the offering is prepared and given.