Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वमष्टमुहूर्तास्तु ग्राह्याः स्नानजपादिषु । तुलायां चैव मेषे च पूर्वतः परतस्तथा ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvamaṣṭamuhūrtāstu grāhyāḥ snānajapādiṣu | tulāyāṃ caiva meṣe ca pūrvataḥ paratastathā || 22 ||

Translation

对于沐浴、诵持真言等仪轨，应取一日之初的八个牟呼尔多（muhūrta）为相宜之时。又在天秤（Tula）与白羊（Meṣa）之际，计时当依正法分别取其“先”与“后”。

Word by Word

• pūrvam: earlier/first
• pūrvam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• aṣṭa-muhūrtāḥ: eight muhūrtas
• aṣṭa-muhūrtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural (बहुवचन); dvigu-samāsa (द्विगुसमास)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), emphasis/contrast

• grāhyāḥ: to be taken/observed
• grāhyāḥ: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √grah (ग्रह् धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive/obligative; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Plural; agrees with aṣṭa-muhūrtāḥ

• snāna-japa-ādiṣu: in bathing, japa, etc.
• snāna-japa-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + japa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Plural; ādi-tatpuruṣa ‘snāna-japa-ādi’ = “bathing, recitation, etc.”

• tulāyām: in Libra (Tula)
• tulāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), emphasis

• meṣe: in Aries (Mesha)
• meṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• pūrvataḥ: from the east / beforehand
• pūrvataḥ: Deśa/Kāla-adhikaraṇa (देश/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvataḥ (अव्यय; pūrva + tas)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning “from the east/beforehand”

• parataḥ: from the west / afterwards
• parataḥ: Deśa/Kāla-adhikaraṇa (देश/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parataḥ (अव्यय; para + tas)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning “from the west/afterwards”

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Tulā (Libra)
• Meṣa (Aries)
• Muhūrta

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual disciplines like snāna and japa should be aligned with auspicious time (kāla), because right timing supports purity, steadiness of mind, and ritual efficacy.

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

By directing devotees to perform japa in the most supportive portion of the day, it emphasizes disciplined, time-conscious practice that strengthens daily remembrance and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it specifies muhūrta selection and notes timing distinctions connected with the Sun’s transit through Libra (Tulā) and Aries (Meṣa).