Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

परविद्धाः प्रशस्ताः स्युर्न ग्राह्याः पूर्वसंयुताः । नागविद्धा तु या षष्टी शिवविद्धा तु सप्तमी ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

paraviddhāḥ praśastāḥ syurna grāhyāḥ pūrvasaṃyutāḥ | nāgaviddhā tu yā ṣaṣṭī śivaviddhā tu saptamī || 4 ||

Translation

Las tithis “penetradas” en el día siguiente (paraviddhā) se consideran loables; en cambio, las unidas al día anterior (pūrvasaṃyutā) no deben aceptarse. Debe evitarse una Ṣaṣṭhī perforada por Nāga, y también una Saptamī perforada por Śiva.

Word by Word

• paraviddhāḥ: those overlapped into the next (tithi)
• paraviddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (√vidh/√vyadh?; here 'viddha' as past participle from √vyadh 'to pierce', used in calendrical sense) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; bahuvacana adjective meaning 'pierced/overlapped by the next (day)'

• praśastāḥ: commended, approved
• praśastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of √śas)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; predicative adjective

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

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

• grāhyāḥ: to be accepted
• grāhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grāhya (प्रातिपदिक; gerundive from √grah)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; predicative: 'to be accepted'

• pūrva-saṃyutāḥ: connected with the previous (tithi)
• pūrva-saṃyutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / qualifier of grāhyāḥ (negated)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of √yuj with sam-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'joined with the previous (day)'

• nāga-viddhā: pierced by (the) Nāga (i.e., nāga-vedha)
• nāga-viddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; qualifying 'ṣaṣṭī'

• tu: but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• yā: which
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to 'ṣaṣṭī'

• ṣaṣṭī: the sixth lunar day
• ṣaṣṭī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• śiva-viddhā: pierced by Śiva (śiva-vedha)
• śiva-viddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; qualifying 'saptamī'

• tu: but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• saptamī: the seventh lunar day
• saptamī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching tithi/vṛta-nirṇaya principles in the Narada Purana tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Nāga
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic precision in observances: choosing the correct tithi-lakṣaṇa (timing characteristics) safeguards the purity and fruit of a vrata, showing that devotion should be supported by proper ritual discernment.

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

Bhakti is not presented as careless sentiment; the verse implies that sincere worship is strengthened when aligned with śāstra-based timing (tithi-nirṇaya), avoiding doṣa-tainted days that can weaken the intended religious merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa/Pañcāṅga practice: determining whether a tithi is paraviddhā or pūrvasaṃyutā and recognizing specific ‘viddha’ doṣas (Nāga-viddhā, Śiva-viddhā) while fixing vrata dates.