Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

पौरुषेण तु सूक्तेन पूजयेदुपचारकैः । अकारणान्मुष्टिगतांस्तंडुलान्सकपर्द्दिकान् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

pauruṣeṇa tu sūktena pūjayedupacārakaiḥ | akāraṇānmuṣṭigatāṃstaṃḍulānsakaparddikān || 41 ||

Translation

应以《普鲁沙颂》（Pauruṣa Sūkta）依诸供养仪轨（upacāra）而行礼拜，并且无需特别缘由或繁复条件，奉上手捧米粒，兼以海贝（cowrie）同献。

Word by Word

• पौरुषेण: with the Pauruṣa (hymn)
• पौरुषेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• सूक्तेन: with a hymn
• सूक्तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• उपचारकैः: with (various) offerings/attendances
• उपचारकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अकारणात्: without (any) reason
• अकारणात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे हेत्वभाव-निर्देश (from no particular cause)

• मुष्टि-गतान्: placed in the fist (fistful)
• मुष्टि-गतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (गम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘गत’ = gone/placed; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुष्टौ गताः)

• तण्डुलान्: rice grains
• तण्डुलान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स-कपर्द्दिकान्: together with cowries
• स-कपर्द्दिकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + कपर्द्दिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—अव्ययीभावः (सह कपर्द्दिकाभिः) = ‘with cowries’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Purusha (cosmic being of the Purusha Sukta)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes accessible devotion: worship may be done with the Pauruṣa Sūkta and standard upacāras, even with simple offerings like a handful of rice and cowries, showing that sincerity and mantra-centered worship are primary.

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

By prescribing a revered Vedic hymn (Pauruṣa Sūkta) along with modest offerings, it frames bhakti as steady, mantra-supported reverence rather than dependence on costly materials—devotion expressed through orderly worship (upacāra) is the core.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual application of mantra (connected with śikṣā for correct recitation and kalpa-style procedure through upacāras), showing how a specific sūkta is paired with defined offerings in a concise puja-vidhi.