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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

पूर्वा गृहस्थैः कार्यात्र यतिभिश्चोत्तरा तिथिः । उपोष्यैव द्वितीयेति केचिदाहुश्च भक्तितः ॥ ५२ ॥

pūrvā gṛhasthaiḥ kāryātra yatibhiścottarā tithiḥ | upoṣyaiva dvitīyeti kecidāhuśca bhaktitaḥ || 52 ||

এখানে গৃহস্থদের পূর্ববর্তী তিথি পালনীয়, আর যতিদের জন্য পরবর্তী তিথি। কিছু ভক্ত ভক্তিভাবে বলেন—দ্বিতীয় দিনেই উপবাস করে ব্রত করা উচিত।

pūrvāthe earlier (tithi)
pūrvā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootpūrvā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa (adjective)
gṛhasthaiḥby householders
gṛhasthaiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instr. 3rd), Bahuvacana (pl.)
kāryāshould be observed/done
kāryā:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootkārya (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातोः—कृ + यत्, ‘to be done’)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (predicative adjective)
atrahere/in this matter
atra:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatra (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; deśavācaka avyaya (locative adverb)
yatibhiḥby ascetics
yatibhiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instr. 3rd), Bahuvacana (pl.)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)
uttarāthe later (tithi)
uttarā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootuttarā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa
tithiḥlunar day (tithi)
tithiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottithi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)
upoṣya(it is) to be fasted
upoṣya:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootupa-vas (धातु) + ya (क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्यय; gerundive sense)
FormKṛdanta (gerundive/obligative), Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); ‘to be fasted/one should fast’
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; avadhāraṇa-nipāta (emphatic particle)
dvitīyāthe second (tithi)
dvitīyā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvitīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); tithi-nāma (name of a lunar day)
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; iti-śabda (quotative particle)
kecitsome (people)
kecit:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkecit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.) (common), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Bahuvacana (pl.); sarvanāma (pronoun)
āhuḥsay/declare
āhuḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootah (धातु)
FormLaṭ/Perfect-like usage (liṭ commonly for ‘they said’), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana (pl.)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)
bhaktitaḥout of devotion
bhaktitaḥ:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Pañcamī vibhakti (Abl. 5th), Ekavacana (sg.); hetu/nimitta-artha (cause: ‘out of’)

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the vrata/tithi discussion)

Vrata: Ekadashi (contextual)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

N
Narada
G
Grihastha
Y
Yati

FAQs

It teaches that devotional observances must be aligned with dharma and eligibility: householders and renunciants may follow different tithi rules, yet the core aim remains sincere devotion expressed through disciplined fasting and observance.

Bhakti is shown as both rule-guided and heartfelt: while tithi selection follows tradition (earlier for gṛhasthas, later for yatis), some devotees emphasize devotion by fasting on the following day as well, prioritizing earnest worship and restraint.

It reflects Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style tithi-nirṇaya (lunar-day determination) used in vrata scheduling—how to choose the correct observance day when tithis shift, with different prescriptions based on āśrama (life-stage).