Shloka 17

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

तिथिप्रमाणं विप्रेंद्राः क्षपाकरदिवाकरौ । चंद्रार्कचारविज्ञानात्कालं कालविदो विदुः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tithipramāṇaṃ vipreṃdrāḥ kṣapākaradivākarau | caṃdrārkacāravijñānātkālaṃ kālavido viduḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Wahai yang terbaik antara para brāhmaṇa, ukuran tithi ditentukan oleh Bulan dan Matahari. Dengan mengetahui perjalanan Bulan dan Matahari, para arif tentang kala memahami hakikat waktu itu sendiri.

Word by Word

• तिथि-प्रमाणम्: the measure of tithi
• तिथि-प्रमाणम्: कर्म/विषय (Viṣaya/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (तिथेः प्रमाणम्)

• विप्र-इन्द्राः: O best of Brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्राः: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; vocative-like address in nominative form; तत्पुरुष (विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः)

• क्षपाकर-दिवाकरौ: the moon and the sun
• क्षपाकर-दिवाकरौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षपाकर (प्रातिपदिक) + दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास; ‘moon and sun’

• चन्द्र-अर्क-चार-विज्ञानात्: from knowledge of the moon’s and sun’s motions
• चन्द्र-अर्क-चार-विज्ञानात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + चार (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ablative singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रार्कयोः चारस्य विज्ञानम्)

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• काल-विदः: knowers of time
• काल-विदः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural; तत्पुरुष (कालं वेत्ति)

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching the assembled sages/brāhmaṇas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Surya

FAQs

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

It frames sacred observance as aligned with cosmic order: knowing tithi through Sun–Moon motion ensures vratas and rites are performed at the correct time, honoring ṛta (the lawful rhythm of the universe).

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

Bhakti practices (fasts, pūjā, Ekādaśī-like observances) depend on proper timing; the verse supports devotion by grounding worship in accurate tithi reckoning rather than guesswork.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga: determining tithi and kāla by calculating/observing the Moon’s and Sun’s courses (candrārka-cāra), a key tool for calendrics and ritual scheduling.