Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

परेद्युर्विबुधश्रेष्टैः कुहूर्ग्राह्या पराह्णगा । मध्याह्नद्वितये व्यात्पा ह्यमावास्या तिथिर्यदि ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

paredyurvibudhaśreṣṭaiḥ kuhūrgrāhyā parāhṇagā | madhyāhnadvitaye vyātpā hyamāvāsyā tithiryadi || 34 ||

Translation

O best of the wise, if the Amāvāsyā tithi (new-moon day) extends into the second midday period, then the Kuhū tithi should be observed on the previous day, taking the afternoon (parāhṇa) as its proper time.

Word by Word

• परेद्युः: on the next day
• परेद्युः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परेद्युस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• विबुधश्रेष्टैः: by the best of the gods/sages
• विबुधश्रेष्टैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुधश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक); विबुध + श्रेष्ठ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (‘श्रेष्ठा विबुधाः’)

• कुहूः: Kuhū
• कुहूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted
• ग्राह्या: Vidhi (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• पराह्णगा: occurring in the afternoon
• पराह्णगा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराह्णग (प्रातिपदिक); पराह्ण + ग
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘parāhṇam gacchati/गतः’)

• मध्याह्नद्वितये: in the two mid-day periods (two halves around noon)
• मध्याह्नद्वितये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्नद्वितय (प्रातिपदिक); मध्याह्न + द्वितय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• व्यात्पा: (unclear; likely ‘pervading/extended’)
• व्यात्पा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/if read as ‘व्याप्ता’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यात्पा (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट-रूप)
• Form: रूप-अनिश्चित (uncertain form); सम्भाव्यं ‘व्याप्ता’ (स्त्री. प्रथमा. एक.) इति पाठः

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• अमावास्या: new-moon day (Amāvāsyā)
• अमावास्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• यदि: if
• यदि: Hetu/Condition (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic precision: sacred observances should follow correct tithi and time (kāla), because the fruit of a rite is tied to proper calendrical determination.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti-based vows by teaching when to perform them correctly; accurate timing protects the integrity of devotional observances offered to the deities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (Vedic calendrics/astronomy): it gives a rule for assigning the Kuhū observance based on Amāvāsyā’s extension across midday (vyāpti) and the parāhṇa criterion.