Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

अक्षय्यासनयोः षष्टी द्वितीयावाहने स्मृता । अन्नदाने चतुर्थी स्याच्छेषाः संपुद्धयः स्मृताः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

akṣayyāsanayoḥ ṣaṣṭī dvitīyāvāhane smṛtā | annadāne caturthī syāccheṣāḥ saṃpuddhayaḥ smṛtāḥ || 38 ||

Translation

For the imperishable gift (akṣayya) and the gift of a seat (āsana), the sixth lunar day (Ṣaṣṭhī) is prescribed; for a second conveyance (dvitīya-vāhana), the second lunar day (Dvitīyā) is remembered. For the gift of food (anna-dāna), the fourth lunar day (Caturthī) is recommended; the remaining cases are to be understood as “saṃpuddhayaḥ”—complete purifications and auspicious fulfillments—as taught.

Word by Word

• अक्षय्यासनयोः: of the (two) imperishable seats
• अक्षय्यासनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय्य + आसन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (‘अक्षय्यं आसनम्’)

• षष्टी: the sixth case (genitive)
• षष्टी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विभक्ति-नाम

• द्वितीया: the second case (accusative)
• द्वितीया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विभक्ति-नाम

• आवाहने: in the invocation
• आवाहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्मृता: is prescribed/remembered
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is said/remembered’

• अन्नदाने: in the giving of food
• अन्नदाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + दान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘अन्नस्य दानम्’)

• चतुर्थी: the fourth case (dative)
• चतुर्थी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विभक्ति-नाम

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शेषाः: the remaining (cases/usages)
• शेषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सम्बुद्धयः: (are) vocatives/forms of address
• सम्बुद्धयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘सम्बोधन’ अर्थे

• स्मृताः: are prescribed/remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are said/remembered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links specific charitable acts (dāna) with suitable lunar days (tithis), emphasizing that correct timing supports akṣayya (undiminishing) merit and ritual purity in dharma.

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

By regulating dāna through sacred time, it encourages disciplined, sattvic giving as an offering aligned with dharma—an external support for inner devotion and merit dedicated to the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-style calendrical practice (tithi-based muhūrta selection), applying lunar-day rules to ritual charity such as anna-dāna and other prescribed gifts.