Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29
Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta
क्षये पूर्वा तु कर्त्तव्या वृद्धौ कार्या तथोत्तरा । अमावास्या प्रतीता चेन्मध्याह्णात्परतो यदि ॥ २९ ॥
kṣaye pūrvā tu karttavyā vṛddhau kāryā tathottarā | amāvāsyā pratītā cenmadhyāhṇātparato yadi || 29 ||
तिथि के क्षय में पूर्ववर्ती दिन ग्रहण करना चाहिए और तिथि-वृद्धि में उत्तरवर्ती दिन। यदि अमावस्या मध्याह्न के बाद ही प्रतीत हो, तो उसी अनुसार (उत्तरवर्ती का) निर्णय करना चाहिए।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: Amāvāsyā timing (applied to śrāddha/vrata contexts)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It safeguards dharma by ensuring that vrata and pitṛ-related rites are performed on the correctly determined tithi, so the intended spiritual merit is not lost due to calendrical confusion.
Bhakti is expressed through disciplined observance; this verse emphasizes that devotion must be aligned with proper tithi-niṇaya (ritual time-determination) so worship and vows are offered at the right sacred moment.
It highlights Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga timekeeping: rules for handling tithi kṣaya (loss) and vṛddhi (increase), and the importance of midday (madhyāhna) as a threshold in deciding the observance day.