Shloka 16

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

न तत्रोदयिनी ग्राह्या दैवस्योदयिकी तिथिः । प्रत्यहं शोधयेत्प्राज्ञस्तिथिं दैवज्ञचिंतकात् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

na tatrodayinī grāhyā daivasyodayikī tithiḥ | pratyahaṃ śodhayetprājñastithiṃ daivajñaciṃtakāt || 16 ||

Translation

In dieser Angelegenheit soll man nicht die „udayinī“-Zählung der Tithi (nach dem Sonnenaufgang) übernehmen; vielmehr ist für heilige Gelübde und Riten die Tithi mit Bezug auf den Sonnenaufgang festzulegen. Darum soll der Weise die Tithi täglich durch einen kundigen Astrologen prüfen lassen.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्ग-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• उदयिनी: having sunrise/with (its) rise
• उदयिनी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदयिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective (qualifying तिथिः understood)

• ग्राह्या: to be accepted
• ग्राह्या: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यता/योग्यता-वाचक कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be taken/accepted’

• दैवस्य: of the (deva-related) rite / of the divine (observance)
• दैवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular

• उदयिकी: pertaining to sunrise/its rise
• उदयिकी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदयिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with तिथिः

• तिथिः: tithi (lunar day)
• तिथिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• प्रत्यहम्: daily
• प्रत्यहम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः; ‘each day’ (adverb)

• शोधयेत्: should ascertain/verify
• शोधयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध्/शोधय् (धातु, णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्) ‘should ascertain/purify’

• प्राज्ञः: a wise person
• प्राज्ञः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• तिथिम्: the tithi
• तिथिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• दैवज्ञ-चिंतकात्: from an astrologer/learned calculator
• दैवज्ञ-चिंतकात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + चिंतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (दैवज्ञः चिंतकः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharmic observances require correct sacred time (kāla-śuddhi); accurate tithi determination safeguards the purity and efficacy of rites and vows.

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, it supports devotion by insisting that vrata and pūjā offered with proper tithi (right time) are performed in an orderly, scripture-aligned way, strengthening disciplined worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: the practical computation/verification of tithi with reference to sunrise, and the need to consult a competent daivajña for daily calendrical accuracy.