Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वविद्धं प्रकुर्वाणो नरकायोपद्यते । कृष्णपक्षे पूर्वविद्धां सत्पमीं च चतुर्दशीम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaviddhaṃ prakurvāṇo narakāyopadyate | kṛṣṇapakṣe pūrvaviddhāṃ satpamīṃ ca caturdaśīm || 6 ||

Translation

ପୂର୍ବବିଦ୍ଧ ତିଥିରେ କର୍ମ କରୁଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ନରକକୁ ପତିତ ହୁଏ। କିନ୍ତୁ କୃଷ୍ଣପକ୍ଷରେ ସପ୍ତମୀ ଓ ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶୀକୁ ପୂର୍ବବିଦ୍ଧ ଭାବେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରି ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍।

Word by Word

• pūrva-viddham: a tithi overlapped by the previous (day)
• pūrva-viddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (कृदन्त)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; object of 'prakurvāṇaḥ' (doing/observing a 'pūrva-viddha' tithi)

• prakurvāṇaḥ: performing/observing
• prakurvāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛ (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Puṃliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; agent noun 'one who performs'

• narakāya: to hell
• narakāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (चतुर्थी) Ekavacana; dative of goal

• upadyate: falls into, goes to
• upadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√pad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• kṛṣṇa-pakṣe: in the dark fortnight
• kṛṣṇa-pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī Ekavacana; locative 'in the dark fortnight'

• pūrva-viddhām: overlapped by the previous (day)
• pūrva-viddhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifying 'saptamīm'

• satpamīm: the seventh lunar day
• satpamīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• caturdaśīm: the fourteenth lunar day
• caturdaśīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching nirṇaya rules within vrata/kalā discipline)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It stresses that correct timing (tithi-nirṇaya) is part of Dharma; performing a vow on the wrong tithi is treated as a serious ritual fault with harmful karmic consequences.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic tradition is expressed through disciplined observances; the verse teaches that devotion should be aligned with śāstric timing rather than personal convenience.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga-based pañcāṅga application—deciding whether a tithi is to be taken as pūrvaviddhā (earlier contact) for specific lunar days in the kṛṣṇa-pakṣa.