Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

चतुर्थ्यां फाल्गुने मासि ढुंढिराजव्रतं शुभम् । तिलषिष्टैर्द्विजान् भोज्य स्वयं चाश्नीत मानवः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

caturthyāṃ phālgune māsi ḍhuṃḍhirājavrataṃ śubham | tilaṣiṣṭairdvijān bhojya svayaṃ cāśnīta mānavaḥ || 87 ||

Translation

ഫാൽഗുണ മാസത്തിലെ ചതുര്ഥി നാളിൽ ശുഭമായ ഢുംഢിരാജ-വ്രതം ആചരിക്കണം. എള്ളുകൊണ്ടുള്ള വിഭവങ്ങളാൽ ദ്വിജരെ (ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ) ഭോജനിപ്പിച്ച്, സാധകൻ താനും അതേ ആഹാരം കഴിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थ्याम्: on the fourth (lunar day)
• चतुर्थ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/Locative), एकवचन

• फाल्गुने: in Phālguna
• फाल्गुने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• ढुंढि-राज-व्रतम्: the vow of Ḍhuṃḍirāja
• ढुंढि-राज-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ढुंढि (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ḍhuṃḍirājasya vratam)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तिल-षिष्टैः: with sesame (preparations/remnants)
• तिल-षिष्टैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + षिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (tilaiḥ śiṣṭaiḥ = 'with sesame-remnants/with sesame-preparations')

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), बहुवचन

• भोज्य: having fed / should feed
• भोज्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/तव्यत्-सम्भाव्य; here gerundive/absolutive sense 'having fed/should feed'); अव्ययभावे प्रयोगः; अर्थतः विधेयकर्म

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अश्नीत: should eat
• अश्नीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानवः: a man
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ḍhuṃḍhirāja-vrata (Ḍhuṃḍhirāja-vrataṃ)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dhundhiraja
• Dwijas (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It teaches a concrete vrata-vidhi: auspicious observance on Phalguna Caturthi is completed through devotion expressed as regulated conduct—feeding worthy recipients (dvijas) and disciplined personal participation in the sanctified meal.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through ritual service and offering—honoring the deity of the vrata (Ḍhuṃḍhirāja) and serving brāhmaṇas with sesame food—showing devotion as reverent action aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and basic tithi-based observance are implied: the vow is fixed to Caturthī and the month of Phālguna, reflecting practical ritual timing and vrata discipline.