Shloka 40

Devanagari script

पूर्वविद्धा पुरा दत्ता सा तिथिर्यदुमौलिना । दानवेभ्यो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रीणनार्थं महात्मनाम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaviddhā purā dattā sā tithiryadumaulinā | dānavebhyo dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ prīṇanārthaṃ mahātmanām || 40 ||

Translation

Ô le meilleur des brāhmanes, ce tithi lunaire—lorsqu’il est « pūrvaviddhā », c’est-à-dire effleuré d’avance par la portion requise—fut jadis accordé par Śrī Kṛṣṇa, joyau au faîte des Yadu, aux Dānavas, afin de satisfaire ces êtres au grand cœur.

Word by Word

• pūrva-viddhā: previously ‘pierced/tainted’ (i.e., already touched by the previous tithi)
• pūrva-viddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā < √vidh/√vid (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; ‘पूर्वेण विद्धा’

• purā: formerly, earlier
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• dattā: given
• dattā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) + क्त-प्रत्यय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP)

• sā: that (she/it)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• yadu-maulinā: by the crest-jewel of the Yadus (Krishna)
• yadu-maulinā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-instrumental (कर्तृकरणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक) + maulin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘यदूनां मौलिः’ = crest-jewel of the Yadus)

• dānavebhyaḥ: to the Dānavas (demons)
• dānavebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), बहुवचन

• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: Sambodhana/Addressed group (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘द्विजानां श्रेष्ठाः’)

• prīṇana-artham: for the purpose of pleasing
• prīṇana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīṇana (प्रातिपदिक; from √prī ‘to please’) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘प्रीणनस्य अर्थम्’ = purpose)

• mahātmanām: of the great-souled ones
• mahātmanām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form, Uttara-Bhaga style narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Dānava

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sacred time (tithi) is itself a dharmic gift, and that observing it correctly—especially when qualified as pūrvaviddhā—becomes a means of pleasing exalted beings and sustaining cosmic order through ritual propriety.

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

By linking correct observance of a divinely sanctioned tithi with ‘pleasing’ great souls, the verse frames devotion as disciplined practice—honoring Kṛṣṇa’s ordinances through vrata and calendar-based worship rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga time-reckoning: the rule of pūrvaviddhā tithi qualification, which guides when a vrata or ritual should be performed according to lunar-day overlap and timing.