Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
एवं दत्त्वा गणेशाय दिव्यार्घ्यं पापनाशनम् । शक्त्या संभोज्य विप्राग्र्यान्स्वयं भुंजीत चाज्ञया ॥ ७८ ॥
evaṃ dattvā gaṇeśāya divyārghyaṃ pāpanāśanam | śaktyā saṃbhojya viprāgryānsvayaṃ bhuṃjīta cājñayā || 78 ||
Ainsi, après avoir offert à Gaṇeśa l’arghya divin qui détruit le péché, qu’on nourrisse, selon ses moyens, les plus éminents brāhmaṇas; puis, avec l’autorisation requise, qu’on mange soi-même.
Narada (instructional narration within the Narada Purana’s ritual guidance section; traditionally relayed in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)
Vrata: Saṅkaṣṭa-vrata (contextual sequence)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames a complete dharmic ritual sequence: purificatory offering (divyārghya) to Gaṇeśa for pāpa-nāśa, followed by vipra-bhojana (feeding worthy brāhmaṇas) and only then personal consumption—showing that worship culminates in service and disciplined conduct.
Bhakti here is expressed as reverent worship plus practical seva: honoring Gaṇeśa with arghya and honoring the learned/virtuous through feeding, placing devotion into tangible, community-sustaining action before seeking one’s own satisfaction.
It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) principles: prescribed sequencing of offerings, capacity-based performance (śaktyā), and rules around partaking of food only after the ritual obligations (including honoring brāhmaṇas) are fulfilled.