Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90
The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga
तृतीयकालपूजायामस्ति कालविकल्पना । सायाह्ने निशि वेत्यत्र वदंत्येके विपश्चितः ॥ ९० ॥
tṛtīyakālapūjāyāmasti kālavikalpanā | sāyāhne niśi vetyatra vadaṃtyeke vipaścitaḥ || 90 ||
In the worship performed at the third time-period of the day, there is a difference of opinion regarding the proper time: some learned authorities say it should be done in the late afternoon toward evening, while others say it should be done at night.
Narada (instructional narration within Vedanga/ritual-time discussion)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It highlights that even in ritual practice, timing (kāla) can admit legitimate scriptural or traditional alternatives, and the devotee should follow an accepted lineage-based determination rather than arbitrary preference.
By acknowledging accepted options for the third-time worship, it emphasizes steadiness in daily devotion—regular worship matters, and one should perform it according to a valid tradition, whether in late afternoon or at night.
Vedanga-Kalpa (ritual procedure) and kāla-nirṇaya (determination of proper ritual time), showing that ritual timings may be interpreted as sāyāhna (late afternoon) or niśā (night) by different authorities.