Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
अस्यां चतुर्थ्यां शशिनं न पश्येच्च कदाचन । पश्यन् मिथ्याभिशाप तु लभते नात्र संशयः । अथ तद्दोषनाशाय मन्त्रं पौराणिकं पठेत् ॥ ३८ ॥
asyāṃ caturthyāṃ śaśinaṃ na paśyecca kadācana | paśyan mithyābhiśāpa tu labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ | atha taddoṣanāśāya mantraṃ paurāṇikaṃ paṭhet || 38 ||
En cette Caturthī, qu’on ne regarde jamais la Lune. Si on la regarde, on encourt à coup sûr une fausse accusation — sans aucun doute. Aussi, pour effacer cette souillure, qu’on récite un mantra purānique.
Narada (teaching in a Purāṇic instructional context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue frame)
Vrata: Caturthī observance (Gaṇeśa/Vināyaka-associated in tradition)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It links tithi-dharma (discipline tied to lunar days) with ethical consequence: on Caturthī, improper conduct (moon-sighting) is said to invite social-spiritual blemish (false accusation), and the remedy is Purāṇic mantra-recitation as prāyaścitta.
Bhakti here is expressed as śraddhā-filled obedience to Purāṇic injunctions and reliance on mantra (sacred recitation) to cleanse faults—turning a mistake into renewed remembrance of the sacred through disciplined practice.
It highlights Jyotiṣa-based practice: a rule determined by tithi (Caturthī) and a corresponding remedial measure, reflecting how calendrical/astrological timing guides ritual conduct in Purāṇic tradition.