Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2
Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta
श्रौतं स्मार्त्तं व्रतं दानं यच्चान्यत्कर्म वैदिकम् । अनिर्णीतासु तिथिषु न किंचित्फलति द्विज ॥ २ ॥
śrautaṃ smārttaṃ vrataṃ dānaṃ yaccānyatkarma vaidikam | anirṇītāsu tithiṣu na kiṃcitphalati dvija || 2 ||
Hỡi Bà-la-môn, dù là nghi lễ Śrauta, phép tắc Smārta, trai giới (vrata), bố thí (dāna) hay bất cứ hành vi Vệ-đà nào khác—nếu tithi (ngày âm) chưa được xác định đúng, thì hoàn toàn không sinh quả báo.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on dharma and ritual timing)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that dharmic actions must be aligned with sacred time (kāla); without correct tithi-nirṇaya, even sincerely performed Vedic rites fail to produce their intended spiritual merit (phala).
By stressing disciplined observance—vratas, dāna, and worship done at the proper tithi—this verse supports bhakti as a regulated practice (niyama) where devotion is strengthened through correct, scripture-aligned timing.
Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga (Vedic astronomy/astrology) is central: determining the correct tithi is presented as essential for the validity and fruit of śrauta, smārta, vrata, and dāna practices.