Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञेया दशैव घटिका दत्तस्याक्षयतावहाः । कन्यायां मिथुने चैव मीने धनुषि च द्विज ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

jñeyā daśaiva ghaṭikā dattasyākṣayatāvahāḥ | kanyāyāṃ mithune caiva mīne dhanuṣi ca dvija || 23 ||

Translation

Wisse, o Zweimalgeborener, dass eine Spanne von genau zehn Ghaṭikās als solche gilt, die eine Gabe unerschöpflich fruchtbar macht—besonders wenn der Mond in Kanyā (Jungfrau), Mithuna (Zwillinge), Mīna (Fische) oder Dhanu (Schütze) steht.

Word by Word

• jñeyāḥ: to be known/considered
• jñeyāḥ: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive; Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural; agrees with ghaṭikāḥ (understood/collective)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral used substantively; (commonly indeclinable in such use); here “ten” qualifying ghaṭikāḥ

• eva: exactly/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), emphasis

• ghaṭikāḥ: ghaṭikās (time-units)
• ghaṭikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural

• dattasya: of what is given (gift)
• dattasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक; √dā (दा धातु) past passive participle)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular; “of the gift/that which is given”

• akṣayatā-āvahāḥ: bringing imperishability (lasting merit)
• akṣayatā-āvahāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣayatā (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक; √vah (वह् धातु) with ā-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural; tatpuruṣa: “bringing (āvaha) imperishability (akṣayatā)”

• kanyāyām: in Virgo (Kanyā)
• kanyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular

• mithune: in Gemini (Mithuna)
• mithune: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular (here zodiac sign)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), emphasis

• mīne: in Pisces (Mīna)
• mīne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular

• dhanuṣi: in Sagittarius (Dhanu)
• dhanuṣi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• dvija: O twice-born (brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that dāna (charitable giving) becomes “akṣaya” (inexhaustible in merit) when performed in a specifically auspicious time-window, showing that Dharma is strengthened by right timing (muhūrta) as well as right intention.

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

By emphasizing disciplined, reverent giving at an auspicious time, the verse supports bhakti through devotional action—offering one’s resources as a sacred act that yields enduring spiritual fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga: it references time-measurement (ghaṭikā) and zodiacal placements (Kanyā, Mithuna, Mīna, Dhanuṣ) to select an auspicious muhūrta for performing dāna.