Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
सनातन उवाचग । श्रृणु विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि चतुर्थ्यास्ते व्रतान्यहम् । यानि कृत्वा नरा नार्योऽभीष्टान्कामानवाप्नुयुः ॥ १ ॥
sanātana uvācaga | śrṛṇu vipra pravakṣyāmi caturthyāste vratānyaham | yāni kṛtvā narā nāryo'bhīṣṭānkāmānavāpnuyuḥ || 1 ||
Sanātana dit : « Écoute, ô brāhmane ; je vais t’exposer les vœux (vrata) observés au Caturthī, le quatrième jour lunaire. En les accomplissant, hommes et femmes obtiennent les souhaits désirés. »
Sanātana (one of the Sanatkumāra brothers)
Vrata: Caturthī-vrata (general class of fourth-lunar-day vows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It introduces Caturthī-vratas as a dharmic discipline and frames them as purposeful observances that yield specific fruits (phala), preparing the listener for detailed ritual guidance.
While not explicitly naming a deity here, it sets up vow-based worship (vrata) as a structured way to direct faith and intention toward sacred practice, which commonly culminates in devotional offerings and remembrance.
It emphasizes calendrical ritual timing—observance by tithi (Caturthī)—a practical aspect aligned with Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning used for deciding when vows and rites should be performed.