Shloka 40

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

पूर्वविद्धा पुरा दत्ता सा तिथिर्यदुमौलिना । दानवेभ्यो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रीणनार्थं महात्मनाम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaviddhā purā dattā sā tithiryadumaulinā | dānavebhyo dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ prīṇanārthaṃ mahātmanām || 40 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc Bà-la-môn tối thượng, tithi ấy—khi là “pūrvaviddhā” (đã được phần đúng chạm trước từ tithi trước)—xưa kia đã được Śrī Kṛṣṇa, viên ngọc trên đỉnh của dòng Yadu, ban cho các Dānava, nhằm làm thỏa lòng những bậc đại tâm.

Word by Word

• pūrva-viddhā: previously ‘pierced/tainted’ (i.e., already touched by the previous tithi)
• pūrva-viddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + viddhā < √vidh/√vid (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; ‘पूर्वेण विद्धा’

• purā: formerly, earlier
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• dattā: given
• dattā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) + क्त-प्रत्यय
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP)

• sā: that (she/it)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tithiḥ: lunar day (tithi)
• tithiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• yadu-maulinā: by the crest-jewel of the Yadus (Krishna)
• yadu-maulinā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-instrumental (कर्तृकरणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक) + maulin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘यदूनां मौलिः’ = crest-jewel of the Yadus)

• dānavebhyaḥ: to the Dānavas (demons)
• dānavebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), बहुवचन

• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ: Sambodhana/Addressed group (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘द्विजानां श्रेष्ठाः’)

• prīṇana-artham: for the purpose of pleasing
• prīṇana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīṇana (प्रातिपदिक; from √prī ‘to please’) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘प्रीणनस्य अर्थम्’ = purpose)

• mahātmanām: of the great-souled ones
• mahātmanām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form, Uttara-Bhaga style narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Dānava

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sacred time (tithi) is itself a dharmic gift, and that observing it correctly—especially when qualified as pūrvaviddhā—becomes a means of pleasing exalted beings and sustaining cosmic order through ritual propriety.

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

By linking correct observance of a divinely sanctioned tithi with ‘pleasing’ great souls, the verse frames devotion as disciplined practice—honoring Kṛṣṇa’s ordinances through vrata and calendar-based worship rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga time-reckoning: the rule of pūrvaviddhā tithi qualification, which guides when a vrata or ritual should be performed according to lunar-day overlap and timing.