Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

गणेशाय प्रदद्याच्च ह्यर्घ्यं विधिविदांवरः । लम्बोदरं चतुर्बाहुं त्रिनेत्रं रक्तवर्णकम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

gaṇeśāya pradadyācca hyarghyaṃ vidhividāṃvaraḥ | lambodaraṃ caturbāhuṃ trinetraṃ raktavarṇakam || 12 ||

Translation

ผู้รู้พิธีกรรมผู้ประเสริฐพึงถวายอัรฆยะแด่พระคเณศ—ผู้มีพระอุทรใหญ่ (ลัมโบดร) มีสี่กร มีสามเนตร และมีวรกายสีแดง

Word by Word

• गणेशाय: to Ganesha
• गणेशाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• प्रदद्यात्: should offer/give
• प्रदद्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक अव्यय (indeed/for)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (honor-offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन

• विधि-विदाम्-वरः: the best among those who know the rite
• विधि-विदाम्-वरः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (कृदन्त; √विद् ज्ञाने) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘विधिं विदन्ति ये’ तेषां ‘वरः’ (best among knowers of rites)

• लम्बोदरम्: pot-bellied
• लम्बोदरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—गणेशस्य; ‘लम्बम् उदरं यस्य सः’

• चतुर्बाहुम्: four-armed
• चतुर्बाहुम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—गणेशस्य; ‘चत्वारः बाहवो यस्य सः’

• त्रिनेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—गणेशस्य; ‘त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य सः’

• रक्तवर्णकम्: red-colored
• रक्तवर्णकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—गणेशस्य; ‘रक्तः वर्णकः (वर्णः) यस्य’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the ritual sequence, traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Jāti-Candrodaya (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It establishes the customary vighna-nivāraṇa (removal of obstacles) step: honoring Gaṇeśa first with arghya, emphasizing that worship should be performed by one who knows the proper vidhi.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence—devotion guided by ritual order—beginning with respectful offerings and contemplation of the deity’s form (Lambodara, four-armed, three-eyed, red-hued).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style procedural knowledge (ritual method): the upacāra of arghya and the importance of following prescribed vidhi in worship.