Shloka 10

Devanagari script

अपराह्णे च पितृभिः शर्वंर्यां गुह्यकादिभिः । सर्वा वेला अतिक्रम्य नक्तभोजनमुत्तमम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

aparāhṇe ca pitṛbhiḥ śarvaṃryāṃ guhyakādibhiḥ | sarvā velā atikramya naktabhojanamuttamam || 10 ||

Translation

അപരാഹ്നത്തിൽ പിതൃകൾക്ക് അർപ്പണം ചെയ്യണം; രാത്രിയിൽ ഗുഹ്യകാദി ദേവയോനികൾക്ക് സമർപ്പിക്കണം. പകലിലെ എല്ലാ വേളകളും കഴിഞ്ഞ ശേഷം രാത്രിയിൽ മാത്രം ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കൽ (നക്ത) ഉത്തമവ്രതമെന്നു പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अपराह्णे: in the afternoon
• अपराह्णे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराह्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• पितृभिः: with the Pitṛs (manes)
• पितृभिः: सहकारक/सह (Sahakāraka/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• शर्वर्यां: at night
• शर्वर्यां: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• गुह्यकादिभिः: with the Guhyakas and others
• गुह्यकादिभिः: सहकारक/सह (Sahakāraka/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; ‘guhyaka-ādi’ = ‘Guhyakas and others’

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; agrees with ‘वेलाः’

• वेलाः: times/periods
• वेलाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• अतिक्रम्य: having passed beyond
• अतिक्रम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; having overstepped/passed beyond

• नक्तभोजनम्: night-time eating/meal
• नक्तभोजनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्त + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular; ‘night-meal’

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ‘नक्तभोजनम्’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga vrata/timing context; traditionally conveyed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frames)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nakta-bhojana (night-meal observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Guhyakas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes kāla (proper timing) in ritual life—honoring Pitṛs in the afternoon, acknowledging other classes of beings at night, and adopting naktabhojana as a disciplined restraint that aligns food intake with a vrata-based schedule.

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

While not directly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it supports bhakti through niyama (regulated practice): disciplined timing and restraint purify the practitioner, making worship and remembrance more steady and sattvic.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga-linked kāla-vicāra (time-determination used in ritual practice, associated with Jyotiṣa/kalā-knowledge): specifying aparāhṇa and śarvarī as appropriate periods for particular offerings and observances.