Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

क्षये पूर्वा प्रशस्ता स्याद्रृद्धौ कार्या तथोत्तरा । अर्ध्दरात्रद्वयव्यात्पा तिथिर्नक्षत्रसंयुता ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

kṣaye pūrvā praśastā syādrṛddhau kāryā tathottarā | ardhdarātradvayavyātpā tithirnakṣatrasaṃyutā || 14 ||

Translation

Cuando una tithi está en mengua, se considera auspiciosa su parte anterior; cuando está en aumento, debe elegirse la parte posterior para realizar los ritos. Una tithi que se extiende a través de dos medianoches y está unida al nakṣatra apropiado debe tenerse en cuenta para determinar el tiempo correcto.

Word by Word

• क्षये: in decrease/waning
• क्षये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• प्रशस्ता: commendable
• प्रशस्ता: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शंस्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘praised/commended’

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ऋद्धौ: in increase/growth
• ऋद्धौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कार्या: to be done/should be observed
• कार्या: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be done’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (thus/likewise)

• उत्तरा: the later (one)
• उत्तरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अर्द्धरात्रद्वयव्यात्पा: spanning the two midnights
• अर्द्धरात्रद्वयव्यात्पा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्धरात्र + द्वय + व्याप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (अर्द्धरात्रद्वयं व्याप्ता)

• तिथिः: tithi
• तिथिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नक्षत्रसंयुता: joined with the nakṣatra
• नक्षत्रसंयुता: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नक्षत्र + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नक्षत्रेण/नक्षत्रस्य संयुता)

Speaker

Narada (teaching traditional kala-nirnaya/auspicious time rules in the Narada Purana’s technical guidance)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches dharmic precision in worship: selecting the correct portion of time (kāla) aligns a rite with cosmic order, making vrata, pūjā, and saṁskāra more effective and free from timing दोष (doṣa).

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

Bhakti is not only feeling but also disciplined practice; by observing proper tithi and nakṣatra timing, a devotee honors sacred order and performs devotion with care, steadiness, and scriptural alignment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga (astronomical/astrological timekeeping): it gives a rule for choosing the earlier or later part of a tithi depending on kṣaya (decline) or vṛddhi (increase), and notes special consideration when a tithi spans two midnights along with nakṣatra association.