Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

एकदंतं शूर्पकर्णं गजवक्त्रं चतुर्भुजम् । पाशांकुशधरं देवं तप्तकांचनसन्निभम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

ekadaṃtaṃ śūrpakarṇaṃ gajavaktraṃ caturbhujam | pāśāṃkuśadharaṃ devaṃ taptakāṃcanasannibham || 29 ||

Translation

Je médite sur le Seigneur divin (Gaṇeśa) : à une seule défense, aux larges oreilles, au visage d’éléphant, aux quatre bras, portant le lacet et l’aiguillon, resplendissant tel l’or chauffé à blanc.

Word by Word

• एक-दन्तम्: one-tusked
• एक-दन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘एकः दन्तः यस्य’

• शूर्प-कर्णम्: having winnow-like ears
• शूर्प-कर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘शूर्पवत् कर्णौ यस्य’

• गज-वक्त्रम्: elephant-faced
• गज-वक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘गजस्य वक्त्रं यस्य’

• चतुर्भुजम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य’

• पाश-अङ्कुश-धरम्: bearing a noose and a goad
• पाश-अङ्कुश-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘पाशं च अङ्कुशं च धरति/धारयति यः’

• देवम्: the god (deity)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तप्त-काञ्चन-सन्निभम्: resembling heated gold
• तप्त-काञ्चन-सन्निभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तप्तकाञ्चनस्य सन्निभः = ‘heated-gold-like’)

Speaker

Narada (in a descriptive/summary passage within the Anukramanika section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Siddha-Vināyaka Vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna (meditative icon) of Gaṇeśa, emphasizing auspicious invocation: contemplating his form is a traditional way to remove obstacles and steady the mind before sacred study, ritual, or vows.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through focused remembrance (smaraṇa/dhyāna) of the deity’s attributes—form, weapons, and radiance—training the devotee to approach the divine with clarity, reverence, and single-pointed attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga (ritual application) aligned with Kalpa: beginning rites with a Gaṇapati-dhyāna is a practical liturgical convention for successful performance of mantra, pūjā, and vrata.