Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अपराह्णाच्च पूर्वोह्णं ग्राह्यं श्रेष्टत्तरं यतः । असंभवे व्रतादीनां यदि पौर्वाह्णिकी तिथिः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

aparāhṇācca pūrvohṇaṃ grāhyaṃ śreṣṭattaraṃ yataḥ | asaṃbhave vratādīnāṃ yadi paurvāhṇikī tithiḥ || 8 ||

Translation

Plutôt que l’après-midi (aparāhṇa), il convient d’accepter l’avant-midi (pūrvāhṇa), car il est tenu pour plus excellent. Si, pour les vœux et observances semblables, cela n’est pas possible, on prendra alors la tithi qui tombe dans l’avant-midi.

Word by Word

• aparāhṇāt: from/than the afternoon
• aparāhṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aparāhṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; अपादान (ablative: 'from/than the afternoon')

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• pūrva-ahṇam: the forenoon
• pūrva-ahṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva + ahan/ahna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; 'earlier part of the day/forenoon'); Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• grāhyam: to be taken/accepted
• grāhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √grah (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य; gerundive), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विधेय (to be taken/accepted)

• śreṣṭa-taram: better/superior
• śreṣṭa-taram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Taratama-pratyaya (तर; comparative), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'better'

• yataḥ: because/since
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Hetu-avyaya (हेतु-अव्यय; causal conjunction)

• asaṃbhave: in (case of) non-occurrence/impossibility
• asaṃbhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asaṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; सत्तमी-निमित्त (locative of condition: 'in case of non-availability')

• vrata-ādīnām: of vows and the like
• vrata-ādīnām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: ādi-tatpuruṣa; Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śart-avyaya (शर्त-अव्यय; conditional particle)

• paurvāhṇikī: forenoon-related
• paurvāhṇikī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paurvāhṇikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; तद्धित (तद्धित; 'belonging to the forenoon')

• tithiḥ: lunar day (tithi)
• tithiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual timing principles within Dharma/Vrata context)

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 emphasizes that Dharma is upheld by correct observance—choosing the proper time (kāla) for a vow is itself part of the vow’s purity and efficacy.

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

By guiding devotees to perform vratas at the most auspicious time, it supports disciplined worship and steadiness in devotional practice, which strengthens bhakti through proper niyama (religious restraint).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga-based ritual calendrics: determining which tithi to ‘take’ (grāhya) based on day-parts (pūrvāhṇa/aparāhṇa) when scheduling vratas and related rites.