Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

भूतविद्धेति विख्यातास्रद्भिः शास्त्रविशारदैः । अत्यंतक्षयपक्षे तु परेद्युर्नापराह्णगा ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

bhūtaviddheti vikhyātāsradbhiḥ śāstraviśāradaiḥ | atyaṃtakṣayapakṣe tu paredyurnāparāhṇagā || 30 ||

Translation

ശാസ്ത്രവിശാരദരായ ശ്രദ്ദാലുക്കളിൽ ഇത് ‘ഭൂതവിദ്ധാ’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്. എന്നാൽ അത്യന്തം ക്ഷയസ്ഥിതിയിൽ ഇത് അടുത്ത ദിവസം തന്നെ ആചരിക്കണം; അതേ ദിവസത്തെ അപരാഹ്നത്തിൽ അല്ല.

Word by Word

• भूतविद्धा: (the tithi called) Bhūtaviddhā
• भूतविद्धा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + विद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: भूतैः विद्धा = ‘pierced/affected by bhūtas’ i.e., a technical tithi-name); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• विख्याता: is known/renowned
• विख्याता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ख्या (धातु) → विख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is renowned/known’

• श्राद्धैः: by/with śrāddhas (rites)
• श्राद्धैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शास्त्रविशारदैः: by those skilled in the scriptures
• शास्त्रविशारदैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: शास्त्रे विशारद = expert in scriptures); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अत्यन्तक्षयपक्षे: in the case of extreme shortening
• अत्यन्तक्षयपक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Condition-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त + क्षय + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: अत्यन्त-क्षयस्य पक्षः = the side/case of extreme decrease); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• परेद्युः: on the next day
• परेद्युः: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परेद्युस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: on the next day)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अपराह्णगा: extending into the afternoon
• अपराह्णगा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराह्ण + गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: अपराह्णं गच्छति/गता = going into the afternoon); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of tithi)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a dharma/vrata calendrical discussion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Amāvāsyā timing (bhūtaviddhā case)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śāstra-based precision in dharma: spiritual merit depends not only on devotion but also on correctly determining the observance time (kāla) when calendrical anomalies like tithi-kṣaya occur.

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

Bhakti is protected from error by following scriptural timing rules; the verse implies that sincere devotion should be aligned with correct vrata-kāla, especially when the tithi is ‘lost’ and the observance must shift to the next day.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga calendrics (pañcāṅga logic): recognizing tithi-kṣaya and applying the rule that in extreme kṣaya cases the observance is on the next day, not in the aparāhṇa of the nominal day.