Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

परविद्धाः प्रशस्ताः स्युर्न ग्राह्याः पूर्वसंयुताः । नागविद्धा तु या षष्टी शिवविद्धा तु सप्तमी ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

paraviddhāḥ praśastāḥ syurna grāhyāḥ pūrvasaṃyutāḥ | nāgaviddhā tu yā ṣaṣṭī śivaviddhā tu saptamī || 4 ||

Translation

Ang mga tithi na “tumatawid sa susunod na araw” (paraviddhā) ay pinupuri; ngunit ang mga tithi na “nakadugtong sa naunang araw” (pūrvasaṃyutā) ay hindi dapat tanggapin. Ang Ṣaṣṭhī na napapahiran ng Nāga ay dapat iwasan, at gayundin ang Saptamī na napapahiran ng Śiva ay dapat iwasan.

Word by Word

• paraviddhāḥ: those overlapped into the next (tithi)
• paraviddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (√vidh/√vyadh?; here 'viddha' as past participle from √vyadh 'to pierce', used in calendrical sense) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; bahuvacana adjective meaning 'pierced/overlapped by the next (day)'

• praśastāḥ: commended, approved
• praśastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of √śas)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; predicative adjective

• syuḥ: should be / would be
• syuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

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

• grāhyāḥ: to be accepted
• grāhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grāhya (प्रातिपदिक; gerundive from √grah)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; predicative: 'to be accepted'

• pūrva-saṃyutāḥ: connected with the previous (tithi)
• pūrva-saṃyutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / qualifier of grāhyāḥ (negated)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of √yuj with sam-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'joined with the previous (day)'

• nāga-viddhā: pierced by (the) Nāga (i.e., nāga-vedha)
• nāga-viddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; qualifying 'ṣaṣṭī'

• tu: but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• yā: which
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to 'ṣaṣṭī'

• ṣaṣṭī: the sixth lunar day
• ṣaṣṭī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• śiva-viddhā: pierced by Śiva (śiva-vedha)
• śiva-viddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; qualifying 'saptamī'

• tu: but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• saptamī: the seventh lunar day
• saptamī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching tithi/vṛta-nirṇaya principles in the Narada Purana tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Nāga
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic precision in observances: choosing the correct tithi-lakṣaṇa (timing characteristics) safeguards the purity and fruit of a vrata, showing that devotion should be supported by proper ritual discernment.

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

Bhakti is not presented as careless sentiment; the verse implies that sincere worship is strengthened when aligned with śāstra-based timing (tithi-nirṇaya), avoiding doṣa-tainted days that can weaken the intended religious merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa/Pañcāṅga practice: determining whether a tithi is paraviddhā or pūrvasaṃyutā and recognizing specific ‘viddha’ doṣas (Nāga-viddhā, Śiva-viddhā) while fixing vrata dates.