Shloka 9

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

मूलं तिथेः पितॄणां तु कालज्ञैः प्रियमीरितम् । अतः प्रांतमुपोष्यं हि तिथेर्दशफलेप्सुभिः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

mūlaṃ titheḥ pitṝṇāṃ tu kālajñaiḥ priyamīritam | ataḥ prāṃtamupoṣyaṃ hi titherdaśaphalepsubhiḥ || 9 ||

Translation

તિથિનું ‘મૂલ’ પિતૃઓને પ્રિય છે—એવું કાળજ્ઞોએ કહ્યું છે. તેથી તિથિના દશગুণ ફળ ઇચ્છનારોએ તિથિના અંત સુધી ઉપવાસ રાખવો જોઈએ.

Word by Word

• मूलम्: the root/beginning
• मूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• तिथेः: of the tithi
• तिथेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

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

• कालज्ञैः: by the knowers of time
• कालज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक: काल+ज्ञ)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• प्रियम्: dear/pleasing (thing)
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); कर्म-विशेषण (object complement)

• ईरितम्: has been declared/said
• ईरितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईरित (प्रातिपदिक; √ईर्/ईरय्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle/क्त), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); कर्मणि (passive sense)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), हेत्वर्थ (therefore/from this)

• प्रान्तम्: the end (portion)
• प्रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• उपोष्यम्: to be fasted/observed as fast
• उपोष्यम्: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपोष्य (प्रातिपदिक; √उपवस्-धातोः यत्/ण्यत्-भावे कर्मणि)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate to implied ‘(प्रान्तम्)’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ (indeed)

• तिथेः: of the tithi
• तिथेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• दश-फल-एप्सुभिः: by those desiring tenfold fruit
• दश-फल-एप्सुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + एप्सु (प्रातिपदिक; √आप् ‘to obtain’ इच्छार्थे)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); ‘दशफल’ = tenfold fruit (object desired) + ‘एप्सु’ = desirous

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga context of ritual timing and observance)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: tithi-vrata (general; not a named vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that a tithi-observance becomes spiritually effective when it aligns with sacred timing and pleases the Pitṛs; completing the fast through the tithi’s end is presented as the essential discipline that yields amplified merit.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined observance: honoring divine order through correct timing (kāla-jñāna) and reverence for ancestors, thereby cultivating steadiness and sincerity—qualities that support bhakti-based life practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kāla-nirṇaya (time-determination) connected to Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga—specifically, observing a vrata according to the tithi’s boundaries and completing the fast up to the tithi’s prānta (end portion) for full result.