Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

ह्नासवृद्धिविशून्या चेत् ग्राह्यापूर्वा तथा परा । ज्येष्ठासंमिश्रितं मूलं रोहिणी वह्निंसंयुता ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

hnāsavṛddhiviśūnyā cet grāhyāpūrvā tathā parā | jyeṣṭhāsaṃmiśritaṃ mūlaṃ rohiṇī vahniṃsaṃyutā || 15 ||

Translation

If a given configuration is free from both decline and increase, then both Pūrvā and Parā (nakṣatras) are acceptable. Mūla when mixed with Jyeṣṭhā, and Rohiṇī when conjoined with Agni (a fiery influence), are to be treated with special consideration in electional timing.

Word by Word

• ह्नासवृद्धिविशून्या: devoid of decrease and increase
• ह्नासवृद्धिविशून्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्नास + वृद्धि + विशून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (ह्नास-वृद्धिभ्यां विशून्या = devoid of decrease and increase)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Hetu/Condition (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त/सम्भावनासूचक-अव्यय (if)

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted
• ग्राह्या: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive)

• पूर्वा: the earlier (one)
• पूर्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘likewise’

• परा: the other/later (one)
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठासंमिश्रितम्: mixed with Jyeṣṭhā
• ज्येष्ठासंमिश्रितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठा + सम्मिश्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ज्येष्ठया सम्मिश्रितम्)

• मूलम्: Mūla (nakṣatra)
• मूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नक्षत्रनाम

• रोहिणी: Rohiṇī (nakṣatra)
• रोहिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नक्षत्रनाम

• वह्निंसंयुता: joined with Agni (vahni)
• वह्निंसंयुता: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वह्निना/वह्नेः संयुता)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a dharmic support-system: by avoiding unstable ‘decline/increase’ conditions and noting sensitive star-combinations, one aligns ritual timing with cosmic order (ṛta), reducing obstacles to sacred acts.

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

Indirectly: bhakti-practices (vratas, pūjā, saṃskāras) are strengthened when performed at proper muhūrta; the verse supplies technical criteria so devotional acts can be undertaken with fewer impediments.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa—specifically muhūrta/electional rules using nakṣatras and their combinations (e.g., Pūrvā/Parā acceptability, and cautions about Mūla–Jyeṣṭhā and Rohiṇī with a fiery/Agni influence).