Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

घटिकाः षोडश ज्ञेया परतः पुण्यदायिकाः । माकरं संक्रमं प्राहुरुत्तरायणसंज्ञकम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ghaṭikāḥ ṣoḍaśa jñeyā parataḥ puṇyadāyikāḥ | mākaraṃ saṃkramaṃ prāhuruttarāyaṇasaṃjñakam || 24 ||

Translation

సంక్రమానంతరం పదహారు ఘటికలు విశేష పుణ్యదాయకమని తెలుసుకొనుము. సూర్యుడు మకరంలో ప్రవేశించుటను ఋషులు ‘ఉత్తరాయణ’ అనే సంక్రమమని అంటారు.

Word by Word

• ghaṭikāḥ: ghaṭikās
• ghaṭikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen
• ṣoḍaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral used as quantifier; “sixteen” qualifying ghaṭikāḥ

• jñeyāḥ: to be known/considered
• jñeyāḥ: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya gerundive; Feminine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with ghaṭikāḥ

• parataḥ: afterwards
• parataḥ: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (काल/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) “afterwards/from the west”

• puṇya-dāyikāḥ: bestowing merit
• puṇya-dāyikāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural; tatpuruṣa: “giving (dāyikā) merit (puṇya)”

• mākaraṃ: (the) Makara (Capricorn)
• mākaraṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular

• saṃkramaṃ: transition/ingress (saṅkrama)
• saṃkramaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkrama (प्रातिपदिक; √kram (क्रम् धातु) with sam-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular

• prāhuḥ: they say/call
• prāhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्/ब्रू धातु; perfect-like)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• uttarāyaṇa-saṃjñakam: called ‘Uttarāyaṇa’
• uttarāyaṇa-saṃjñakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara-āyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: “having the designation (saṃjñaka) ‘uttarāyaṇa’”

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in dialogue with Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Makara-saṃkrānti (implied observance context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Makara
• Uttarāyaṇa

FAQs

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

It identifies a highly auspicious window of time—sixteen ghaṭikās following the solar ingress—and links Makara Saṃkrānti with the sacred marker of Uttarāyaṇa, emphasizing that correct timing (kāla) enhances puṇya.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti doctrine, it supports devotional life by defining an auspicious time for worship, charity, vows, and Viṣṇu-oriented observances commonly performed around Makara Saṃkrānti/Uttarāyaṇa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy): it uses technical calendrical concepts—saṃkrānti (solar ingress), Makara (zodiacal sign), and ghaṭikā (time-measure)—to prescribe merit-producing ritual timing.