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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 ||

Ang nakaaalam ng wastong pamamaraan, matapos magbigay ng isang śaṅkha (kabibe) sa mga pangunahing dvija na mga maybahay, ay makakamtan ang daigdig ni Saṅkarṣaṇa at magagalak doon sa loob ng maraming kalpa.

gṛhastha-dvija-mukhyebhyaḥfrom the chief householder brāhmaṇas
gṛhastha-dvija-mukhyebhyaḥ:
Apādāna (अपादान/source)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural; ‘from the foremost among householder-brāhmaṇas’ (बहुवचन-समूह)
śaṃkhama conch
śaṃkham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
dattvāhaving given
dattvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdā (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), ‘having given’
vidhāna-vitone who knows the proper procedure
vidhāna-vit:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvidhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘knower of the procedure/rites’ (vit = ‘knower’)
prāpyahaving attained
prāpya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra + āp (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय), ‘having attained’
saṃkarṣaṇamSaṃkarṣaṇa
saṃkarṣaṇam:
Karma (कर्म/goal)
TypeNoun
Rootsaṃkarṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
lokamworld; realm
lokam:
Karma (कर्म/goal)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
modaterejoices
modate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootmud (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ātmanepada
bahu-kalpakamfor many aeons
bahu-kalpakam:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/extent)
TypeAdjective
Rootbahu (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘for many kalpas/for a very long time’ (qualifying modate)

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

S
Saṅkarṣaṇa

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.