Shloka 11

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

षष्ठी चैकादशी भूप धर्मकामार्थलिप्सुभिः । पूर्वविद्धा द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कर्तव्या सप्तमी सदा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhī caikādaśī bhūpa dharmakāmārthalipsubhiḥ | pūrvaviddhā dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kartavyā saptamī sadā || 11 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ! ധർമ്മം, കാമം, അർത്ഥം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവർ ഷഷ്ഠിയും ഏകാദശിയും പൂർവ്വവിദ്ധയായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ തന്നെ വ്രതമാചരിക്കണം. ഹേ ദ്വിജശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! സപ്തമീ വ്രതവും എപ്പോഴും ഇതേ നിയമപ്രകാരം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• षष्ठी: the 6th lunar day
• षष्ठी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एकादशी: the 11th lunar day
• एकादशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• भूप: O king
• भूप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• धर्म-काम-अर्थ-लिप्सुभिः: by those who seek dharma, kāma, and artha
• धर्म-काम-अर्थ-लिप्सुभिः: Karana/Agent-instrument (करण/कर्तृसाधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + लिप्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; धर्म-काम-अर्थ (इतर इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) + लिप्सु ‘desirer’

• पूर्व-विद्धा: the earlier-occurring (tithi)
• पूर्व-विद्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तिथिविशेषण

• द्विज-श्रेष्ठाः: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विज-श्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते (used as address)

• कर्तव्या: should be performed/observed
• कर्तव्या: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) ; कर्तव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘should be observed’

• सप्तमी: the 7th lunar day
• सप्तमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a king; addressed also to the best of the twice-born as an instructional aside)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata; Ekādaśī-vrata; Saptamī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches that vrata-observance is not only about fasting, but also about correct timing (tithi-nirṇaya); right observance supports dharma and orderly living, and is treated as a disciplined spiritual practice.

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

By emphasizing proper Ekādaśī observance (a core Vaiṣṇava vrata), it indirectly supports devotional discipline—keeping sacred days correctly becomes a structured offering and a consistent practice of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical decision-making based on tithi-contact (pūrvaviddhā), aligning with Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga-style timekeeping used to decide the correct day for vratas.