Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

परेद्युर्विबुधश्रेष्टैः कुहूर्ग्राह्या पराह्णगा । मध्याह्नद्वितये व्यात्पा ह्यमावास्या तिथिर्यदि ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

paredyurvibudhaśreṣṭaiḥ kuhūrgrāhyā parāhṇagā | madhyāhnadvitaye vyātpā hyamāvāsyā tithiryadi || 34 ||

Translation

اے داناؤں کے سردار! اگر اَماوَسیا کی تِتھی دوسرے مَدیانھ کے دور تک پھیلی ہو تو اَپَراہْن والی کُہُو تِتھی کو پچھلے دن (پَریدْیُہ) ہی اختیار کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• परेद्युः: on the next day
• परेद्युः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परेद्युस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• विबुधश्रेष्टैः: by the best of the gods/sages
• विबुधश्रेष्टैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुधश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक); विबुध + श्रेष्ठ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (‘श्रेष्ठा विबुधाः’)

• कुहूः: Kuhū
• कुहूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted
• ग्राह्या: Vidhi (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• पराह्णगा: occurring in the afternoon
• पराह्णगा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराह्णग (प्रातिपदिक); पराह्ण + ग
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘parāhṇam gacchati/गतः’)

• मध्याह्नद्वितये: in the two mid-day periods (two halves around noon)
• मध्याह्नद्वितये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्नद्वितय (प्रातिपदिक); मध्याह्न + द्वितय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• व्यात्पा: (unclear; likely ‘pervading/extended’)
• व्यात्पा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/if read as ‘व्याप्ता’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यात्पा (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट-रूप)
• Form: रूप-अनिश्चित (uncertain form); सम्भाव्यं ‘व्याप्ता’ (स्त्री. प्रथमा. एक.) इति पाठः

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• अमावास्या: new-moon day (Amāvāsyā)
• अमावास्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तिथिः: tithi (lunar day)
• तिथिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Hetu/Condition (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic precision: sacred observances should follow correct tithi and time (kāla), because the fruit of a rite is tied to proper calendrical determination.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti-based vows by teaching when to perform them correctly; accurate timing protects the integrity of devotional observances offered to the deities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (Vedic calendrics/astronomy): it gives a rule for assigning the Kuhū observance based on Amāvāsyā’s extension across midday (vyāpti) and the parāhṇa criterion.