Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वतो घटिकास्त्रिंशत्पुण्यकालं विदुर्बुधाः । वृषभे वृश्चिके चैव सिंहे कुम्भे तथैव च ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvato ghaṭikāstriṃśatpuṇyakālaṃ vidurbudhāḥ | vṛṣabhe vṛścike caiva siṃhe kumbhe tathaiva ca || 21 ||

Translation

Ipinahahayag ng mga pantas na, mula sa naunang oras (sa panig ng silangan/mas maaga), tatlumpung ghaṭikā ang bumubuo sa mapalad na panahon. Ang tuntuning ito ay umiiral kapag (ang kaugnay na kalagayan) ay nasa Vṛṣabha (Taurus), Vṛścika (Scorpio), Siṃha (Leo), at gayundin sa Kumbha (Aquarius).

Word by Word

• पूर्वतः: beforehand/earlier
• पूर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वतः (अव्यय; पूर्व)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (from before/earlier)

• घटिकाः: ghaṭikās (time-units)
• घटिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृ/गणना (count)

• त्रिंशत्: thirty
• त्रिंशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; ‘घटिकाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (numeral)

• पुण्यकालम्: auspicious time-period
• पुण्यकालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यकाल (प्रातिपदिक; पुण्य+काल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• विदुः: know/consider
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• वृषभे: in Vṛṣabha (Taurus)
• वृषभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• वृश्चिके: in Vṛścika (Scorpio)
• वृश्चिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृश्चिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• सिंहे: in Siṃha (Leo)
• सिंहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• कुम्भे: in Kumbha (Aquarius)
• कुम्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-astrology context within the Purva Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharmic acts become especially fruitful when performed within a correctly determined puṇyakāla, showing that sacred timing (Jyotiṣa-based muhūrta) supports the efficacy of ritual merit.

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

While technical, it supports Bhakti practice by indicating when devotional observances (vrata, pūjā, snāna, dāna) are most auspicious—helping a devotee align worship with dharmic cosmic order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: the verse teaches a concrete time-measure (thirty ghaṭikās) for defining an auspicious window connected with specific rāśis (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius), useful for muhūrta and ritual scheduling.