Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

एकादशी कलामात्रा द्वादश्यां तु प्रतीयते । द्वादशी च त्रयोदश्यामस्ति चेत्सा परा स्मृता ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśī kalāmātrā dvādaśyāṃ tu pratīyate | dvādaśī ca trayodaśyāmasti cetsā parā smṛtā || 41 ||

Translation

إن كانت إكادشي (Ekādaśī) لا تثبت إلا لجزء يسير (kalā) وتُدرَك في دْفادشي (Dvādaśī)، وكانت دْفادشي تمتدّ إلى تْرايودشي (Trayodaśī)، فحينئذٍ تُذكَر تلك الدْفادشي باسم «بارا» (Parā)، أي اليوم الأسمى والحاسم للالتزام.

Word by Word

• ekādaśī: Ekādaśī
• ekādaśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kalā-mātrā: (only) a small fraction (a kalā-measure)
• kalā-mātrā: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः “कलायाः मात्रा” (a measure of a kalā)

• dvādaśyām: on the Dvādaśī (12th)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• pratīyate: is understood/recognized
• pratīyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (धातु) + prati- उपसर्ग; (आत्मनेपद)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि-छाया “is understood/appears”

• dvādaśī: Dvādaśī
• dvādaśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• trayodaśyām: on the Trayodaśī (13th)
• trayodaśyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trayodaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• asti: exists/is
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त/सम्भावना (if)

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

• parā: superior/ultimate
• parā: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• smṛtā: is considered
• smṛtā: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि “is considered/remembered (as)”

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on vrata and tithi-determination)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī (with Dvādaśī-parā determination)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It safeguards the sanctity of Ekādaśī-vrata by insisting on correct tithi-determination; when Ekādaśī is only momentary and effectively falls on Dvādaśī, the tradition treats the extended Dvādaśī as the decisive ‘Parā’ day for proper observance.

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined vrata; the verse emphasizes that devotion is not merely sentiment but includes careful adherence to dharma—observing the vow on the correctly ascertained lunar day.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (calendar/astronomical reckoning) is implied: recognizing fractional tithi presence (kalā), and deciding observance when Dvādaśī overlaps into Trayodaśī.