Shloka 24

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

महाहानिकरा ह्येषा द्वादशी लंघिता नृभिः । करोति धर्महरणमस्नातेव सरस्वती ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

mahāhānikarā hyeṣā dvādaśī laṃghitā nṛbhiḥ | karoti dharmaharaṇamasnāteva sarasvatī || 24 ||

Translation

Quả thật, Dvādaśī này, nếu con người xem nhẹ mà vượt qua, sẽ gây tổn thất tâm linh rất lớn. Nó làm mất công đức, như kẻ bước vào sông Sarasvatī mà không tắm gội thanh tịnh.

Word by Word

• mahā-hāni-karā: causing great harm
• mahā-hāni-karā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + hāni (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective to dvādaśī; ‘causing great loss’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• dvādaśī: Dvādaśī (the 12th lunar day)
• dvādaśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• laṃghitā: (when) skipped
• laṃghitā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Condition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: laṃgh (लङ्घ् धातु) + ta (क्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with dvādaśī; ‘(when) transgressed/skipped’

• nṛbhiḥ: by men
• nṛbhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agent in passive sense

• karoti: causes, does
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• dharma-haraṇam: the taking away of dharma (righteous merit)
• dharma-haraṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of karoti; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य हरणम्)

• a-snātā: one who has not bathed
• a-snātā: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snā (स्ना धातु) + ta (क्त) with privative a- (अ-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used in simile with iva; ‘one who has not bathed’

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• sarasvatī: Sarasvatī (river)
• sarasvatī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of implied comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; river Sarasvatī (or goddess)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the observance of Vaiṣṇava vrata timing, especially Dvādaśī in relation to Ekādaśī)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī-related observance timing)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati

FAQs

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

It warns that neglecting or transgressing Dvādaśī (the key day connected to proper completion of the Ekādaśī vrata) results in major spiritual loss, described as a ‘theft of dharma’ (loss of accrued merit).

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic vrata tradition is expressed through disciplined observance—honoring the correct tithi and procedure. The verse teaches that devotion is protected by proper completion of the vow, not by carelessness with sacred timings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical and ritual precision—tithi-based observance (Dvādaśī) and the importance of proper purification (snāna). This aligns with Vedāṅga concerns like Jyotiṣa (timekeeping) and Kalpa (ritual procedure).