Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

ग्राह्या स्यादपराह्णस्था कुहूः पैतृककर्मणि । यथार्वाचीनवृद्धौ तु संत्याज्या भूतसंयुताः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

grāhyā syādaparāhṇasthā kuhūḥ paitṛkakarmaṇi | yathārvācīnavṛddhau tu saṃtyājyā bhūtasaṃyutāḥ || 33 ||

Translation

പൈതൃകകർമ്മത്തിൽ കുഹൂ തിഥി അപരാഹ്ണത്തിൽ വന്നാൽ ഗ്രഹണീയമാണ്. എന്നാൽ ആർവാചീന-വൃദ്ധി (സമീപകാലത്ത് മരിച്ചവർക്കുള്ള) കാര്യത്തിൽ ഭൂതസംയുത (അശുഭസ്പർശിത) തിഥികൾ ഒഴിവാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted
• ग्राह्या: Vidhi (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अपराह्णस्था: situated in the afternoon
• अपराह्णस्था: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराह्णस्थ (प्रातिपदिक); अपराह्ण + स्थ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative determinative: ‘aparāhṇe sthā’)

• कुहूः: Kuhū (a lunar tithi/name)
• कुहूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पैतृककर्मणि: in the ancestral rite
• पैतृककर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैतृककर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); पैतृक + कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘paitṛkaṃ karma’)

• यथा: as/according to
• यथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (comparative/according as)

• अर्वाचीनवृद्धौ: when the increase is ‘earlier/preceding’ (i.e., on the earlier side)
• अर्वाचीनवृद्धौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्वाचीनवृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक); अर्वाचीन + वृद्धि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Contrast marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• संत्याज्याः: should be completely abandoned
• संत्याज्याः: Vidhi (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + त्यज् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → संत्याज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• भूतसंयुताः: those associated with bhūtas/inauspicious influence
• भूतसंयुताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूतसंयुत (प्रातिपदिक); भूत + संयुत
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘bhūtaiḥ saṃyutāḥ’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/kalpa-style instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches that ancestral offerings gain efficacy when performed in the proper kāla (time-window) and on ritually suitable tithis; correct timing is treated as a dharmic safeguard for honoring the pitṛs.

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

While primarily ritual-instructional, it supports bhakti indirectly by stressing disciplined, reverent observance—honoring pitṛs as part of dharmic living that sustains purity and steadiness for devotion to Bhagavān.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-oriented ritual timing (kalpa) and tithi/kāla discernment (jyotiṣa): Kuhū is acceptable for śrāddha when occurring in aparāhṇa, and certain mixed/inauspicious tithis are to be rejected for recent-death observances.