Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

भूतविद्धेति विख्यातास्रद्भिः शास्त्रविशारदैः । अत्यंतक्षयपक्षे तु परेद्युर्नापराह्णगा ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

bhūtaviddheti vikhyātāsradbhiḥ śāstraviśāradaiḥ | atyaṃtakṣayapakṣe tu paredyurnāparāhṇagā || 30 ||

Translation

وهو مشهورٌ بين أهل الإيمان العارفين بالشاسترا باسم «بهوتافِدّها» (Bhūtaviddhā). أمّا إذا وقع نقصانٌ شديدٌ جدًّا (kṣaya) في التِّثي، فتكون المراعاة في اليوم التالي، لا في بعدِ ظهرِ اليوم الاسميّ.

Word by Word

• भूतविद्धा: (the tithi called) Bhūtaviddhā
• भूतविद्धा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + विद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: भूतैः विद्धा = ‘pierced/affected by bhūtas’ i.e., a technical tithi-name); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• विख्याता: is known/renowned
• विख्याता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ख्या (धातु) → विख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is renowned/known’

• श्राद्धैः: by/with śrāddhas (rites)
• श्राद्धैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शास्त्रविशारदैः: by those skilled in the scriptures
• शास्त्रविशारदैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: शास्त्रे विशारद = expert in scriptures); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अत्यन्तक्षयपक्षे: in the case of extreme shortening
• अत्यन्तक्षयपक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Condition-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त + क्षय + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: अत्यन्त-क्षयस्य पक्षः = the side/case of extreme decrease); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• परेद्युः: on the next day
• परेद्युः: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परेद्युस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: on the next day)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अपराह्णगा: extending into the afternoon
• अपराह्णगा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराह्ण + गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: अपराह्णं गच्छति/गता = going into the afternoon); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of tithi)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a dharma/vrata calendrical discussion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Amāvāsyā timing (bhūtaviddhā case)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śāstra-based precision in dharma: spiritual merit depends not only on devotion but also on correctly determining the observance time (kāla) when calendrical anomalies like tithi-kṣaya occur.

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

Bhakti is protected from error by following scriptural timing rules; the verse implies that sincere devotion should be aligned with correct vrata-kāla, especially when the tithi is ‘lost’ and the observance must shift to the next day.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga calendrics (pañcāṅga logic): recognizing tithi-kṣaya and applying the rule that in extreme kṣaya cases the observance is on the next day, not in the aparāhṇa of the nominal day.