Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

चतुश्चत्वारिंशताढ्यं चतुः शतमतंद्रितः । तर्पयेदंबुभिः शुद्धैर्गजास्यं दिनशः सुधीः ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

catuścatvāriṃśatāḍhyaṃ catuḥ śatamataṃdritaḥ | tarpayedaṃbubhiḥ śuddhairgajāsyaṃ dinaśaḥ sudhīḥ || 36 ||

Translation

L’homme sage, sans jamais se relâcher, doit chaque jour accomplir le tarpaṇa pour Gajāsya (Gaṇeśa) avec de l’eau pure—durant quarante‑quatre jours, jusqu’à parachever quatre cents offrandes.

Word by Word

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वपद

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; 'forty' as compound member

• आढ्यम्: augmented by, endowed with
• आढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular 'endowed with/added'

• चतुश्चत्वारिंशताढ्यम्: a hundred increased by forty-four (i.e., 144)
• चतुश्चत्वारिंशताढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुः + चत्वारिंशत् + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying 'शतम्'

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; used with 'शतम्'

• शतम्: hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object: number of offerings)

• अतन्द्रितः: untiring, diligent
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• तर्पयेत्: should satiate/offer (tarpana)
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should satisfy/offer libations

• अम्बुभिः: with waters
• अम्बुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• शुद्धैः: pure
• शुद्धैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural agreeing with अम्बुभिः

• गजास्यम्: the elephant-faced one (Gaṇeśa)
• गजास्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक); गजास्य (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (epithet)

• दिनशः: daily
• दिनशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिनशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; distributive adverb 'day by day/daily'

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Vedanga/ritual-technical context, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gajāsya (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined daily upāsanā: regular tarpaṇa with purity and fixed counts cultivates steadiness (atandritā) and removes obstacles through propitiation of Gaṇeśa, the traditional guardian of ritual success.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as consistent, day-by-day reverent offering—devotion embodied in repeatable sacred action performed with purity and attentiveness rather than sporadic emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual prayoga (procedure): purity of the offering substance (śuddha-ambu), prescribed numerical discipline (44 and 400), and daily observance—features typical of Vedanga-aligned karmakāṇḍa guidance.