Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

अर्ध्यं दद्याञ्चतुर्वारं पूजयित्वा गुरुं ततः । निवेदितेषु विप्राय दद्यादर्धांश्च मोदकान् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

ardhyaṃ dadyāñcaturvāraṃ pūjayitvā guruṃ tataḥ | nivediteṣu viprāya dadyādardhāṃśca modakān || 52 ||

Translation

Nachdem man den Guru geehrt und verehrt hat, soll man viermal Arghya darbringen; und nachdem die Speisegabe (Naivedya) dargebracht wurde, gebe man dem Brāhmaṇa Anteile—halbe Portionen—der süßen Modaka.

Word by Word

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering (water of respect)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• चतुः-वारम्: four times
• चतुः-वारम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial), अव्ययभावे एकवचनरूपम्

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• निवेदितेषु: when (they are) offered/presented
• निवेदितेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवेदित (कृदन्त; नि+विद्/वेद् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘निवेदितेषु (मोदकेषु)’ इति अधिकरणे

• विप्राय: to the Brahmin
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अर्धान्: halves/half-portions
• अर्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘मोदकान्’ इति विशेषणम्

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

• मोदकान्: sweet balls (modakas)
• मोदकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure within the Purva Bhaga dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual integrity: honoring the guru, repeating the respectful arghya offering, and completing worship through dāna to a brāhmaṇa—linking devotion with gratitude and generosity.

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

Bhakti is shown as disciplined service: reverence to the guru, careful offerings (arghya and naivedya), and sharing consecrated sweets as charity—devotion expressed through correct action and giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the prescribed sequence—guru-pūjā, repeated arghya, naivedya, and dāna—showing how offerings and charity are integrated into vrata/puja performance.