Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

पूरयेत्तंडलैः शुभ्रैस्तस्योपरि गणेश्वरम् । न्यसेद्वस्त्रयुगाच्छन्नं गंधाद्यैः पूजयेच्च तम् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

pūrayettaṃḍalaiḥ śubhraistasyopari gaṇeśvaram | nyasedvastrayugācchannaṃ gaṃdhādyaiḥ pūjayecca tam || 59 ||

Translation

当以洁白净米充满其中；其上安置主神伽内沙（Gaṇeśa），以两幅衣布覆之；再以香料等诸供品恭敬礼拜。

Word by Word

• पूरयेत्: should fill
• पूरयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative; विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—“should fill”

• तण्डुलैः: with rice grains
• तण्डुलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शुभ्रैः: white
• शुभ्रैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तण्डुलैः इति विशेषणम्

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपरि: on top
• उपरि: देशाधिकरण (Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (on top)

• गणेश्वरम्: Gaṇeśa (lord of the gaṇas)
• गणेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—गणानाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि- अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—“should place/set”

• वस्त्र-युगात्: with/from a pair of cloths
• वस्त्र-युगात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—वस्त्राणां युगम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• आच्छन्नम्: covered
• आच्छन्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; गणेश्वरम् इति विशेषणम्

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—गन्धः आदिः येषाम् (गन्ध-आदि) = perfumes etc.

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—“should worship”

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• तम्: him/that (Gaṇeśa)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual purity and proper upacāras: establishing Gaṇeśa on a clean base (white rice), respectfully covering the deity with cloth, and honoring him with fragrant offerings—signifying reverence and auspicious beginnings.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through attentive service (sevā) and worship—placing the deity with care and offering gandha and related items as loving, disciplined devotion rather than mere formality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and material specification align with Kalpa-style practice (vidhi for worship): selecting pure substances (śubhra taṇḍula), correct placement (nyāsa in the general sense), and prescribed offerings (upacāras like gandha).