Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

दशम्येकादशीविद्धा नोपोष्याः स्युः कदाचन । दर्शं च पौर्णमासीं च सत्पमीं पितृवासरम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

daśamyekādaśīviddhā nopoṣyāḥ syuḥ kadācana | darśaṃ ca paurṇamāsīṃ ca satpamīṃ pitṛvāsaram || 5 ||

Translation

One should never fast on an Ekādaśī tainted by Daśamī. Likewise, one should not fast on the Darśa (new-moon day), the Paurṇamāsī (full-moon day), the Saptamī, or on a day set apart for rites to the ancestors (Pitṛ-vāsara).

Word by Word

• daśamī-ekādaśī-viddhāḥ: (tithis) overlapped by the tenth/eleventh
• daśamī-ekādaśī-viddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśamī (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'pierced/overlapped by the 10th and 11th' (tithi-vedha)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• upoṣyāḥ: to be observed as a fast
• upoṣyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate complement (negated)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upoṣya (प्रातिपदिक; gerundive from upa-√vas 'to fast')
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'to be fasted (on)'

• syuḥ: should be
• syuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (optative), Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana

• kadācana: ever, at any time
• kadācana: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• darśam: new-moon rite/day (darśa)
• darśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया) Ekavacana; object of implied verb (e.g., 'varjayet/na gṛhṇīyāt')

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• paurṇamāsīm: full-moon (day/rite)
• paurṇamāsīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paurṇamāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• satpamīm: the seventh lunar day
• satpamīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; orthographic variant satpamī = saptamī

• pitṛ-vāsaram: the day for ancestors
• pitṛ-vāsaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; 'day of the Pitṛs'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/kalā-nirṇaya context; dialogue tradition primarily with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī upavāsa (by implication)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It stresses dharmic precision in vrata practice: the merit of fasting depends on correct tithi timing, and certain days are reserved for other sacred functions (moon rites and ancestral rites).

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined observance of Viṣṇu-related vows like Ekādaśī; the verse teaches that devotion is not only emotion but also correct, scripture-aligned practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-aligned calendrical decision-making (tithi-nirṇaya): avoiding daśamī-viddhā Ekādaśī and recognizing restricted tithis like Darśa, Paurṇamāsī, and Pitṛ-related days for appropriate rites.