Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

अमावास्या द्विधा प्रोक्ता विद्वद्भिर्धर्मालिप्सुभिः । सिनीवालीं द्विजैर्ग्राह्या साग्निकैः श्राद्धकर्मणि ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

amāvāsyā dvidhā proktā vidvadbhirdharmālipsubhiḥ | sinīvālīṃ dvijairgrāhyā sāgnikaiḥ śrāddhakarmaṇi || 27 ||

Translation

धर्मरक्षणास इच्छुक विद्वानांनी अमावास्येला दोन प्रकार सांगितले आहेत. श्राद्धकर्मात अग्निहोत्रधारी द्विजांनी सिनीवाली अमावास्याच ग्रहण करावी.

Word by Word

• अमावास्या: new-moon day (amāvāsyā)
• अमावास्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• प्रोक्ता: is declared/said
• प्रोक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate in passive)

• विद्वद्भिः: by the learned
• विद्वद्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धर्मालिप्सुभिः: by those desiring dharma
• धर्मालिप्सुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + लिप्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: धर्मम् अलिप्सु = desiring dharma); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सिनीवालीम्: (the tithi called) Sinīvālī
• सिनीवालीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिनीवाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• द्विजैः: by twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ग्राह्या: should be observed/taken
• ग्राह्या: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधिलिङ्गार्थक कर्मणि-योग्यतावाचक कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(सा) ग्राह्या’ = should be taken/observed

• साग्निकैः: by those who maintain the sacred fire
• साग्निकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + अग्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (Karmadharaya: स-अग्निक = having sacred fire); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• श्राद्धकर्मणि: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धकर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha: श्राद्धस्य कर्म = śrāddha-rite); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Amāvāsyā-śrāddha (pitṛ-kārya on new-moon)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sinīvālī
• Amāvāsyā
• Dvija
• Āhitāgni

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharma is upheld through precise ritual discernment: even Amāvāsyā has distinct forms, and choosing the proper one for Śrāddha supports the intended spiritual aim—honoring ancestors through correctly timed offerings.

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

While it is primarily a dharma-ritual instruction, it aligns with bhakti in practice by teaching reverent, disciplined observance—performing Śrāddha with the proper tithi becomes an act of faithful duty that sustains sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and tithi-nirṇaya (determination of lunar dates) are highlighted—specifically, selecting the Sinīvālī form of Amāvāsyā for Śrāddha by sāgnika dvijas.