Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

अर्केऽह्नि पर्वरारौ च चतुर्दश्यष्टमी दिवा । एकादश्यामहोरात्रं भुक्त्वा चांद्रायणं चरेत् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

arke'hni parvarārau ca caturdaśyaṣṭamī divā | ekādaśyāmahorātraṃ bhuktvā cāṃdrāyaṇaṃ caret || 56 ||

Translation

若有人在星期日进食，或在月相交会的“parva之夜”进食，或在十四日（Caturdaśī）或八日（Aṣṭamī）的白昼进食，或在十一日（Ekādaśī）整日整夜皆食——则应修行月行忏法 Cāndrāyaṇa，以作净罪的赎过之戒。

Word by Word

• arke: when (the sun is in) Arka / on Sunday (contextual)
• arke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ahni: in the day
• ahni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• parva-rātrau: on the festival night
• parva-rātrau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvan (प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (parvaṇi rātrau); Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya-nipāta

• caturdaśī: the fourteenth (tithi)
• caturdaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); tithi-nāma

• aṣṭamī: the eighth (tithi)
• aṣṭamī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); tithi-nāma

• divā: by day
• divā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: divā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kālavācaka (by day/in daytime)

• ekādaśyām: on Ekādaśī
• ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ahorātram: day-and-night (whole day)
• ahorātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-samāsa; Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; ktvā-pratyaya (absolutive/gerund), ‘having eaten’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya-nipāta

• cāṃdrāyaṇam: Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• cāṃdrāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• caret: should practice/perform
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.)

Speaker

Nārada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context, traditionally within Nārada–Sanatkumāra dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Sun)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes tithi-based discipline: violating sacred fasting times (especially Ekādaśī and parva junctions) is treated as a dharmic lapse, remedied through the purifying Cāndrāyaṇa observance.

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

By safeguarding Ekādaśī and other sacred lunar timings, the verse supports steadiness in vrata and self-restraint—foundational supports for Viṣṇu-bhakti practice even when it is framed here as corrective penance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical computation of tithi and parva (a Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga application): identifying Ekādaśī, aṣṭamī, caturdaśī, and parva-nights to determine proper ritual conduct and expiation.