Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

दिवसस्याष्टमे काले यदा मंदायते रविः । स कालः कुतपस्तत्र पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

divasasyāṣṭame kāle yadā maṃdāyate raviḥ | sa kālaḥ kutapastatra pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam || 22 ||

Translation

ദിവസത്തിന്റെ എട്ടാം ഭാഗത്ത് സൂര്യന്റെ ചൂടും പ്രഭാവവും മന്ദമാകുമ്പോൾ ആ സമയത്തെ ‘കുതപ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു. അപ്പോൾ പിതൃകൾക്കായി നൽകിയ ദാനം അക്ഷയഫലപ്രദമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• दिवसस्य: of the day
• दिवसस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• अष्टमे: in the eighth
• अष्टमे: अधिकरण (सप्तमी/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular; विशेषण (qualifying)

• काले: at the time
• काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मन्दायते: slows down / becomes mild
• मन्दायते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्दाय (धातु; नामधातु from मन्द)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — Ātmanepada; ‘becomes slow/weakens’

• रविः: the sun
• रविः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• सः: that
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Pronoun, nominative singular

• कालः: time
• कालः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• कुतपः: (the period called) kutapa
• कुतपः: प्रधानीय-विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेष-संज्ञा (technical term)

• तत्र: there / in that (time)
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — agreeing with ‘अक्षयम्’

• अक्षयम्: imperishable / inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: प्रधानीय-विशेष्य (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; predicate/attribute of offering

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Śrāddha/Pitṛ-ritual context; dialogue tradition with Sanatkumāras)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Sun)
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It identifies a sacred daily time-window (Kutapa) during which offerings to the Pitṛs gain akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit, emphasizing that correct timing strengthens the spiritual efficacy of Śrāddha-dāna.

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

By honoring the Pitṛs at the prescribed time as an act of dharma, the devotee cultivates purity, gratitude, and discipline—foundational attitudes that support steady Vishnu-bhakti in the broader Narada Purana framework.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kāla-nirṇaya (time-determination) connected with Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga principles: dividing the day into parts and choosing an auspicious ritual period (Kutapa) for Śrāddha and ancestral offerings.