Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

चतुत्विंशतिसंख्याकान् मोदकैः पायसैस्तथा । सवत्सां गां ततो दद्यादाचार्याय सदक्षिणाम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

catutviṃśatisaṃkhyākān modakaiḥ pāyasaistathā | savatsāṃ gāṃ tato dadyādācāryāya sadakṣiṇām || 66 ||

Translation

One should offer twenty-four sweet dumplings (modakas) and rice-pudding (pāyasa) as well; then one should give the teacher (ācārya) a cow with her calf, together with an appropriate honorarium (dakṣiṇā).

Word by Word

• catutviṃśati-saṃkhyākān: numbering twenty-four
• catutviṃśati-saṃkhyākān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catutviṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ‘चतुत्विंशतिः संख्या येषां ते’ (counted as twenty-four)

• modakaiḥ: with modakas (sweet balls)
• modakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• pāyasaiḥ: with rice-pudding/sweet milk
• pāyasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/particle): likewise/also

• savatsām: together with a calf
• savatsām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/सह) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ‘वत्सेन सह’ (with a calf)

• gām: a cow
• gām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): then/thereafter

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ācāryāya: to the teacher
• ācāryāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• sa-dakṣiṇām: with a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• sa-dakṣiṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/सह) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ‘दक्षिणया सह’ (with honorarium/fee)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Acharya (Guru)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic completion of a rite through offerings (naivedya) and proper honoring of the ācārya via dakṣiṇā, especially go-dāna, which is praised as a meritorious gift.

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

By directing the devotee to conclude observances with sincere offerings and reverence to the guru, it supports bhakti as disciplined worship expressed through service, gratitude, and faithful ritual conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through specific counts and prescribed gifts—twenty-four offerings and the rule of giving dakṣiṇā to the officiating ācārya.