Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
गृहस्थद्विजमुख्येभ्यः शंखं दत्त्वा विधानवित् । प्राप्य संकर्षणं लोकं मोदते बहुकल्पकम् ॥ ४ ॥
gṛhasthadvijamukhyebhyaḥ śaṃkhaṃ dattvā vidhānavit | prāpya saṃkarṣaṇaṃ lokaṃ modate bahukalpakam || 4 ||
Aquele que conhece o procedimento ritual, tendo oferecido uma śaṅkha (concha sagrada) aos mais eminentes dvija chefes de família, alcança o mundo de Saṅkarṣaṇa e ali se regozija por muitos kalpas.
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers, presenting phala-śruti style merits)
Vrata: Caturthī-vrata (continuation; Saṅkarṣaṇa-focused)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that properly performed dāna (charity), aligned with vidhāna (scriptural procedure), becomes a direct means to attain a Viṣṇu-associated realm—here, Saṅkarṣaṇa-loka—yielding long-lasting spiritual reward.
By linking an offering (śaṅkha-dāna) to the attainment of Saṅkarṣaṇa’s realm, the verse frames ritual charity as an act of devotion to Viṣṇu’s vyūha manifestation, where faith and correct observance support bhakti-oriented outcomes.
The emphasis on vidhāna-vit points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) as the practical discipline: knowing how, to whom, and in what manner a gift is to be given for dharmic and spiritual efficacy.