Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

अन्वाधानेष्टिमध्ये तु ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः । प्रायश्चित्तं मुनिश्रेष्ट कर्त्तव्यं तत्र याज्ञिकैः ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

anvādhāneṣṭimadhye tu grahaṇe caṃdrasūryayoḥ | prāyaścittaṃ muniśreṣṭa karttavyaṃ tatra yājñikaiḥ || 58 ||

Translation

മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! അന്വാധാന ഇഷ്ടിയുടെ മദ്ധ്യേ ചന്ദ്രഗ്രഹണമോ സൂര്യഗ്രഹണമോ സംഭവിച്ചാൽ, അവിടെ യാഗം നിർവഹിക്കുന്ന ഋത്വിജർ നിർദ്ദേശിത പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• अन्वाधान-इष्टि-मध्ये: in the middle of the anvādhāna sacrifice
• अन्वाधान-इष्टि-मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वाधान (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — Locative: “in the midst of the anvādhāna iṣṭi”

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• ग्रहणे: at the eclipse
• ग्रहणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Locative: “at (the time of) eclipse”

• चन्द्र-सूर्ययोः: of the moon and the sun
• चन्द्र-सूर्ययोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन — द्वन्द्व-समासः; Genitive dual: “of the moon and the sun”

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — here as object/predicate: “expiation”

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best sage
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — “O best of sages”

• कर्तव्यं: should be done
• कर्तव्यं: विधेय (Obligation/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory) — “to be done/should be performed” (agreeing with प्रायश्चित्तम्)

• तत्र: there; in that situation
• तत्र: अधिकरण/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb) — “there/in that case”

• याज्ञिकैः: by ritual performers
• याज्ञिकैः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental/agentive: “by the ritualists”

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic events like eclipses are ritually significant; when they interrupt a sacred rite, one restores dharmic order through prescribed prāyaścitta rather than abandoning the sacrifice or acting casually.

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

Although focused on ritual, it supports bhakti through reverent discipline: honoring sacred procedure and making amends when disruptions occur is presented as a form of faithful obedience to Vedic and puranic dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology) is implied: recognizing grahaṇa timings and knowing the corresponding prāyaścitta procedures for yajñas when eclipses occur.