Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

चैत्रमासचतुर्थ्यां तु वासुदेवस्वरूपिणम् । गणपं सम्यगभ्यर्च्य दत्त्वा कांचनदक्षिणाम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

caitramāsacaturthyāṃ tu vāsudevasvarūpiṇam | gaṇapaṃ samyagabhyarcya dattvā kāṃcanadakṣiṇām || 2 ||

Translation

ചൈത്രമാസത്തിലെ ചതുർത്ഥിയിൽ വാസുദേവസ്വരൂപനായ ഗണപനെ യഥാവിധി ആരാധിച്ച് കാഞ്ചനദക്ഷിണ അർപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• caitra-māsa-caturthyām: on the Caturthī of the month of Caitra
• caitra-māsa-caturthyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caitra (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + caturthī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; चैत्रमासस्य चतुर्थी → चैत्रमासचतुर्थ्याम्

• tu: indeed; and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (तु) indicating contrast/emphasis

• vāsudeva-svarūpiṇam: (Gaṇapa) who has the form of Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-svarūpiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (गणपम्)—‘having the form of Vāsudeva’

• gaṇapam: Gaṇapa (Gaṇeśa)
• gaṇapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय), ‘having worshipped’

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), ‘having given’

• kāṃcana-dakṣiṇām: a golden honorarium/donation
• kāṃcana-dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṃcana (प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; काञ्चनी (स्वर्णमयी) दक्षिणा → काञ्चनदक्षिणाम्

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Caitra-Caturthī vrata (Gaṇeśa worship within the Caturthī-vrata cycle)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Ganapati (Ganesha)

FAQs

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

It frames Caturthī worship as a dharmic vrata-act where Gaṇapati is revered as non-different in essence from Vāsudeva, and where dakṣiṇā completes the rite through generosity and ritual integrity.

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

By identifying Gaṇapati as vāsudeva-svarūpin, the verse channels devotion toward the Supreme (Vāsudeva) through reverent worship and right conduct, showing bhakti expressed as both worship (arcana) and giving (dāna/dakṣiṇā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it specifies the tithi (Caturthī), the correct performance of worship (samyag abhyarcya), and the concluding dakṣiṇā—core markers of proper vrata and pūjā observance.