Shloka 14

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

आदित्योदयवेलायां यास्तोकापि तिथिर्भवेत् । पूर्वविद्धा तु मंतव्या प्रभूता नोदयं विना ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

ādityodayavelāyāṃ yāstokāpi tithirbhavet | pūrvaviddhā tu maṃtavyā prabhūtā nodayaṃ vinā || 14 ||

Translation

Au moment du lever du soleil, quel que soit le tithi présent—ne fût‑ce qu’un bref instant—il doit être tenu pour pūrvaviddhā, «déjà commencé». Mais un tithi, si étendu soit‑il, qui ne touche pas l’aurore, ne doit pas être considéré comme valable pour l’observance du jour.

Word by Word

• आदित्य-उदय-वेलायाम्: at the time of sunrise
• आदित्य-उदय-वेलायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक) + वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• स्तोका: even a little
• स्तोका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अल्प (small)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/बलार्थक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), सम्भावना/अपि-कार (even/also)

• तिथिः: lunar day (tithi)
• तिथिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: may be/should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पूर्व-विद्धा: earlier-occurring
• पूर्व-विद्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तिथिविशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• मन्तव्या: should be considered
• मन्तव्या: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मन् (धातु) ; मन्तव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘to be considered’

• प्रभूता: considerable/fully present
• प्रभूता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘abundant/considerable’ (tithi)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• उदयम्: sunrise
• उदयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Vinartha (विनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable) governing तृतीया; ‘without’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the rule of tithi for observances)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general rule applicable to vratas)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Sun)

FAQs

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

It teaches kāla-śuddhi (purity of timing): vows and rites gain full merit when aligned with the tithi that is connected to sunrise, ensuring disciplined and scripturally grounded observance.

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

Bhakti is supported by niyama (regulated practice): even devotion-centered vratas must be performed at the proper tithi, and the verse gives a clear rule—accept the tithi that touches sunrise.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga-based calendrical determination: tithi is operationally taken from sunrise contact (pūrvaviddhā), not merely by duration, for deciding the day’s vrata/karma.