Shloka 21

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

अल्पायामथ विप्रेंद्रा द्वादश्यामरुणोदये । स्नानार्चनक्रिया कार्य्या दानहोमादिसंयुता ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

alpāyāmatha vipreṃdrā dvādaśyāmaruṇodaye | snānārcanakriyā kāryyā dānahomādisaṃyutā || 21 ||

Translation

Then, O foremost of brāhmaṇas, at aruṇodaya (the sacred dawn) on the Dvādaśī day, the rites of bathing and worship (arcana) should be performed, together with dāna, homa, and the like.

Word by Word

• alpāyām: in the short (time)
• alpāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with (dvādaśyām) understood/explicit next word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (निपात); ‘then/now’

• vipra-indrāḥ: O best brāhmaṇas
• vipra-indrāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense ‘O best of brāhmaṇas’

• dvādaśyām: on Dvādaśī
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular; ‘on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)’

• aruṇa-udaye: at dawn
• aruṇa-udaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अरुणस्य उदये)

• snāna-arcana-kriyā: the rite of bathing and worship
• snāna-arcana-kriyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; समाहार/तत्पुरुष sense: ‘the act consisting of bathing and worship’

• kāryā: should be performed
• kāryā: Vidheyabhāva (विधेय/Predicate obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + ya (यत्/णीयत् भाव)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (कार्य/णीयत्-भाव); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with kriyā

• dāna-homa-ādi-saṃyutā: accompanied by charity, homa, etc.
• dāna-homa-ādi-saṃyutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (सम्+यु धातु, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective to kriyā; compound: ‘endowed with gifts, fire-offerings, etc.’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī (as part of Ekādaśī-related observance/parāṇa cycle)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvādaśī
• Aruṇodaya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Dvādaśī dawn is a sanctified time for purificatory and devotional action—beginning with snāna (inner-outer cleansing) and culminating in arcana (focused worship), strengthened by dāna and homa as supporting dharmic acts.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined worship: rising at aruṇodaya, performing snāna, and doing arcana with sincerity; charity and fire-offering are presented as complementary supports to devotion rather than mere formalities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-based time-discipline through tithi observance (Dvādaśī) and the prescribed ritual sequence at aruṇodaya, aligning worship with calendrical/astronomical timing used in vrata-vidhi.