Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 169

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

सेष्वशोनाः सितं तिथ्यो बलन्नाशोन्नतं विधोः । श्रृङ्गमन्यत्र उद्वाच्यं बलनांगुललेखनात् ॥ १६९ ॥

Transliteration

seṣvaśonāḥ sitaṃ tithyo balannāśonnataṃ vidhoḥ | śrṛṅgamanyatra udvācyaṃ balanāṃgulalekhanāt || 169 ||

Translation

ശേഷമുള്ള തിഥികളിൽ തിഥിയനുസരിച്ച് ചന്ദ്രകലകൾ ‘ശുക്ല/പ്രകാശ’മാണെന്ന് ഗ്രഹിക്കണം. ചന്ദ്രന്റെ ഉദയം‑അസ്തമനം കൊണ്ടു വർദ്ധി‑ക്ഷയം അറിയാം. ചന്ദ്രശൃംഗത്തിന്റെ (കലാ‑തുമ്പിന്റെ) ദിശ മറ്റിടത്ത് വിരൽ‑ചിഹ്ന‑പ്രമാണം പ്രകാരം വ്യത്യസ്തമായി പറയപ്പെടുന്നു॥१६९॥

Word by Word

• सेषु: in the remaining (cases/places)
• सेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; locative plural

• अशोनाः: not deficient / not lacking
• अशोनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशोना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; nominative plural; विशेषण

• सितम्: white, bright
• सितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular; विशेषण

• तिथ्यः: lunar days (tithis)
• तिथ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; nominative plural

• बलत्: strong / having strength
• बलत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; (पुं. प्रातिपदिकान्त ‘बलत्’ as qualifying)

• नाश: loss, destruction
• नाश: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

• उन्नतम्: raised, elevated
• उन्नतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular; विशेषण

• विधोः: of the moon
• विधोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive singular

• शृङ्गम्: horn; (crescent) tip
• शृङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• उद्वाच्यम्: to be stated / should be said
• उद्वाच्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive) ‘-य’ प्रत्यय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be uttered/said’

• बल: of strength
• बल: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); genitive relation in compound

• अङ्गुलि: of the finger
• अङ्गुलि: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); genitive relation in compound

• लेखनात्: from the marking/writing (with the strong finger)
• लेखनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेखन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative singular; समास: बल-अङ्गुलि-लेखन (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within the Moksha-Dharma/observance discussion, touching calendrical indication)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (the Moon)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Dharma and vrata-observance should be grounded in accurate knowledge of time (kāla)—using tithi and lunar condition—so that spiritual practices are performed with clarity and correctness.

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

Bhakti is supported by disciplined observance; the verse highlights the practical side of devotion—keeping vows and worship on the proper tithis—so that devotional acts align with scriptural timing rather than guesswork.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: reading tithi-related lunar phases (waxing/waning) and using simple observational measures (like finger-marking) to describe the Moon’s crescent orientation for calendrical/ritual purposes.