Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

मोदकं चापि नैवेद्यं सगुडं तिलकुट्टकम् । ततोऽर्घ्यं ताम्रजे पात्रे रक्तचंदनमिश्रितम् ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

modakaṃ cāpi naivedyaṃ saguḍaṃ tilakuṭṭakam | tato'rghyaṃ tāmraje pātre raktacaṃdanamiśritam || 75 ||

Translation

Hendaklah dipersembahkan sebagai naivedya modaka yang manis serta manisan bijan bercampur gula melaka; kemudian persembahkan arghya dalam bejana tembaga yang dicampur cendana merah.

Word by Word

• मोदकम्: modaka sweet
• मोदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि = 'also'

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering (naivedya)
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सगुडम्: with jaggery
• सगुडम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-गुड (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्ग-सहित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-गुड = 'with jaggery')

• तिलकुट्टकम्: sesame sweet (tilakuṭṭaka)
• तिलकुट्टकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + कुट्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (तिलस्य कुट्टकः/कुट्टकम् = sesame sweet/ball)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (respectful offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ताम्रजे: in/with a copper-made
• ताम्रजे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); 'ताम्रज' = copper-made

• पात्रे: in a vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्तचन्दनमिश्रितम्: mixed with red sandalwood
• रक्तचन्दनमिश्रितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्तचन्दन + मिश्रित (कृदन्त; √मिश्र् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), तत्पुरुष-समास (रक्तचन्दनेन मिश्रितम् = mixed with red sandal)

Speaker

Narada (in an instructional/ritual-description sequence, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Saṅkaṣṭa-vrata (contextual sequence; name stated later in 113.79)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes devotional completeness in worship: offering sanctified food (naivedya) and respectful arghya with prescribed purity (copper vessel) and auspicious substances (red sandalwood) as acts of reverence.

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

Bhakti is expressed through tangible upacharas—sweet offerings and arghya—performed with care and traditional correctness, turning ordinary items (food, water, vessel) into dedicated service to the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is reflected through the specification of naivedya types and the proper vessel/substance for arghya, indicating rule-based worship practice.