Shloka 42

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

पूर्वविद्धतिथौ दत्तं तद्दत्तमसुरेष्वथ । यदुच्छिष्टेन दत्तं तु यद्दत्तं पतितेष्वपि ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaviddhatithau dattaṃ taddattamasureṣvatha | yaducchiṣṭena dattaṃ tu yaddattaṃ patiteṣvapi || 42 ||

Translation

Le don fait en un tithi déjà « pūrvaviddha » (altéré par le tithi précédent) est comme un don offert aux Asuras. Et tout ce qui est donné avec des restes (après avoir mangé) est pareillement comme donné même aux déchus, aux impurs.

Word by Word

• pūrva-viddha-tithau: on a previously tainted tithi
• pūrva-viddha-tithau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (√vidh/√vid + क्त) + tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘पूर्वविद्धा तिथिः’ → ‘पूर्वविद्धतिथिः’), locative used adverbially

• dattam: given (gift)
• dattam: Karma (कर्म) (elliptic ‘dānam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) + क्त-प्रत्यय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• tat-dattam: that (is) given
• tat-dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (√dā + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ (correlative) + ‘दत्तम्’

• asureṣu: among/to the Asuras
• asureṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / Recipient-locus
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• atha: then, moreover
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक निपात

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म) (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• ucchiṣṭena: with leftovers/impure remnants
• ucchiṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ucchiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; from √śiṣ/√śas ‘to leave’ with ud-/ut- nuance)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणवाचक (instrumental)

• dattam: given
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) + क्त-प्रत्यय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tu: but, however
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात

• yat-dattam: whatever is given
• yat-dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (√dā + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• patiteṣu: among/to the fallen (outcast)
• patiteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / Recipient-locus
• Type: Noun
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक; from √pat + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त शब्द used as noun (‘fallen ones’)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

Speaker

Narada (teaching rules of dāna and ritual propriety)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Asura

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity (dāna) is not only about intention but also about ritual correctness—proper timing (tithi) and purity (aśauca/ucchiṣṭa). When these are ignored, the merit of the gift is severely diminished.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent, careful worship and offerings. By warning against careless giving (wrong tithi, impure offering), the verse frames devotion as disciplined service (sevā) aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/calendar science) through the notion of pūrvaviddha tithi, and to ritual śauca (purity discipline) relevant to Kalpa (ritual procedure).