Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
गृहस्थद्विजमुख्येभ्यः शंखं दत्त्वा विधानवित् । प्राप्य संकर्षणं लोकं मोदते बहुकल्पकम् ॥ ४ ॥
gṛhasthadvijamukhyebhyaḥ śaṃkhaṃ dattvā vidhānavit | prāpya saṃkarṣaṇaṃ lokaṃ modate bahukalpakam || 4 ||
Celui qui connaît la règle rituelle, après avoir offert une conque sacrée (śaṅkha) aux plus éminents dvija chefs de maison, atteint le monde de Saṅkarṣaṇa et s’y réjouit durant de nombreux kalpa.
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers, presenting phala-śruti style merits)
Vrata: Caturthī-vrata (continuation; Saṅkarṣaṇa-focused)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that properly performed dāna (charity), aligned with vidhāna (scriptural procedure), becomes a direct means to attain a Viṣṇu-associated realm—here, Saṅkarṣaṇa-loka—yielding long-lasting spiritual reward.
By linking an offering (śaṅkha-dāna) to the attainment of Saṅkarṣaṇa’s realm, the verse frames ritual charity as an act of devotion to Viṣṇu’s vyūha manifestation, where faith and correct observance support bhakti-oriented outcomes.
The emphasis on vidhāna-vit points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) as the practical discipline: knowing how, to whom, and in what manner a gift is to be given for dharmic and spiritual efficacy.