Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

सिनीवाली परा ग्राह्या सर्वथा श्राद्धकर्मणि । अत्यंततिथिवृद्धौ तु भूतविद्धां परित्यजेत् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

sinīvālī parā grāhyā sarvathā śrāddhakarmaṇi | atyaṃtatithivṛddhau tu bhūtaviddhāṃ parityajet || 32 ||

Translation

在施行Śrāddha（祭祖施食）之仪时，应恒常优先取辛尼瓦利（Sinīvālī）之月日；但若月日（tithi）过度延长，则当避开“被不祥时段所穿刺”的布胡塔维达（Bhūtaviddhā）之日。

Word by Word

• सिनीवाली: Sinīvālī (a lunar tithi/name)
• सिनीवाली: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिनीवाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परा: the latter (parā)
• परा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

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

• सर्वथा: in every way/always
• सर्वथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• श्राद्धकर्मणि: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धकर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); श्राद्ध + कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘śrāddhasya karma’)

• अत्यन्ततिथिवृद्धौ: when there is an extreme increase/extension of the tithi
• अत्यन्ततिथिवृद्धौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्ततिथिवृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक); अत्यन्त + तिथि + वृद्धि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Contrast marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• भूतविद्धाम्: the ‘bhūtaviddhā’ (tithi affected by bhūtas/inauspicious)
• भूतविद्धाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतविद्धा (प्रातिपदिक); भूत + विद्धा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे (determinative: ‘bhūtaiḥ/भूत-सम्बद्धा विद्धा’)

• परित्यजेत्: should abandon/avoid
• परित्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada on Dharma/ritual timing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Sinivali
• Shraddha
• Tithi
• Bhutaviddha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ancestral rites (Śrāddha) must be performed with correct calendrical precision—choosing an auspicious tithi (Sinīvālī) and avoiding compromised timing (Bhūtaviddhā)—so that the offering bears full dharmic and spiritual efficacy.

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

While centered on ritual timing, it supports Bhakti indirectly by teaching disciplined observance of dharma; such careful performance of pitṛ-karmas is treated as a sacred duty that harmonizes one’s life with cosmic order, which is foundational for steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy): it references tithi selection, tithi-vṛddhi (extended lunar day), and the rule to avoid a ‘pierced’/inauspiciously overlapped tithi (Bhūtaviddhā) when scheduling Śrāddha.