Shloka 23

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

एतस्मात्कारणाद्विप्राः प्रत्यूषे स्नानमाचरेत् । पितृतर्पणसंयुक्तं न दृष्ट्वा द्वादशीदिनम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

etasmātkāraṇādviprāḥ pratyūṣe snānamācaret | pitṛtarpaṇasaṃyuktaṃ na dṛṣṭvā dvādaśīdinam || 23 ||

Translation

ଏହି କାରଣରୁ, ହେ ବିପ୍ରମାନେ, ପ୍ରତ୍ୟୂଷେ ସ୍ନାନ କର; ପିତୃତର୍ପଣ ସହିତ ଦ୍ୱାଦଶୀ ଦିନକୁ ଅଦୃଷ୍ଟ କରି ଯିବାକୁ ଦିଅନି।

Word by Word

• etasmāt: from this
• etasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘from this’

• kāraṇāt: because of the reason
• kāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular; ‘because of (this) reason’

• viprāḥ: brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• pratyūṣe: at dawn
• pratyūṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyūṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; ‘at dawn’

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ācaret: should perform
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhiliṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; injunctive sense ‘should perform’

• pitṛ-tarpaṇa-saṃyuktam: accompanied by pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• pitṛ-tarpaṇa-saṃyuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (सम्+यु धातु, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with snānam; ‘accompanied by ancestral libations’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-न्त); ‘having seen/after seeing’

• dvādaśī-dinam: the day of Dvādaśī
• dvādaśī-dinam: Karma (कर्म/Object of dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः ‘the Dvādaśī day’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, addressing brāhmaṇas as the audience)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī (as part of Ekādaśī observance cycle)

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"karuna","emotional_journey":"A sober, careful insistence: because the stakes are real, bathe at dawn with pitṛ-tarpaṇa and do not let Dvādaśī slip away—concern for spiritual negligence."}

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (ancestors)
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It stresses that Dvādaśī is not merely a calendar marker but a sacred tithi to be consciously observed through purificatory dawn-bathing and reverential pitṛ-tarpaṇa, integrating personal purity with ancestral duty.

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

By insisting on mindful observance of Dvādaśī (commonly linked with Hari-related vrata sequences around Ekādaśī), the verse supports bhakti as disciplined devotion expressed through timely, sattvic daily rites rather than casual or neglected practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights tithi-based ritual timing (Jyotiṣa/kalā-vidhi in practice) and correct daily rite sequencing—pratyūṣa-snana followed by pitṛ-tarpaṇa—showing how observances are anchored to lunar days like Dvādaśī.