Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78
The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata
एवं दत्त्वा गणेशाय दिव्यार्घ्यं पापनाशनम् । शक्त्या संभोज्य विप्राग्र्यान्स्वयं भुंजीत चाज्ञया ॥ ७८ ॥
evaṃ dattvā gaṇeśāya divyārghyaṃ pāpanāśanam | śaktyā saṃbhojya viprāgryānsvayaṃ bhuṃjīta cājñayā || 78 ||
یوں پاپ نाशک دیویہ اَर्घ्य گنیش کو دے کر، اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق افضل برہمنوں کو کھانا کھلائے؛ پھر اجازت لے کر خود بھی تناول کرے۔
Narada (instructional narration within the Narada Purana’s ritual guidance section; traditionally relayed in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)
Vrata: Saṅkaṣṭa-vrata (contextual sequence)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames a complete dharmic ritual sequence: purificatory offering (divyārghya) to Gaṇeśa for pāpa-nāśa, followed by vipra-bhojana (feeding worthy brāhmaṇas) and only then personal consumption—showing that worship culminates in service and disciplined conduct.
Bhakti here is expressed as reverent worship plus practical seva: honoring Gaṇeśa with arghya and honoring the learned/virtuous through feeding, placing devotion into tangible, community-sustaining action before seeking one’s own satisfaction.
It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) principles: prescribed sequencing of offerings, capacity-based performance (śaktyā), and rules around partaking of food only after the ritual obligations (including honoring brāhmaṇas) are fulfilled.