Shloka 11

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

उपवासाद्वारं भैक्ष्यं भैक्ष्याद्वरमयाचितम् । अयाचिताद्वारं नक्तं तस्मान्नक्तं समाचरेत् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

upavāsādvāraṃ bhaikṣyaṃ bhaikṣyādvaramayācitam | ayācitādvāraṃ naktaṃ tasmānnaktaṃ samācaret || 11 ||

Translation

الأفضل من الصوم هو العيش على الصدقة، والأفضل من الصدقة أن يُقبَل ما يأتي بلا طلب. والأفضل حتى من العطاء غير المطلوب هو رياضة الأكل ليلًا فقط؛ لذلك فليُمارَس نذر «نكتا».

Word by Word

• उपवासात्: than fasting
• उपवासात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source-Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative singular

• वरम्: better
• वरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used predicatively ‘better’

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms-food/begged food
• भैक्ष्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• भैक्ष्यात्: than alms-food
• भैक्ष्यात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative singular

• वरम्: better
• वरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicative ‘better’

• अयाचितम्: unsolicited (food)
• अयाचितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; याच् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) used substantively: ‘unsolicited (food)’

• अयाचितात्: than unsolicited (food)
• अयाचितात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; याच् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• वरम्: better
• वरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicative ‘better’

• नक्तम्: night-meal observance (nakta)
• नक्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘night-meal/one meal at night’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु/निबन्धन (Hetu/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; Ablative singular used as discourse connector ‘therefore/from that’

• नक्तम्: nakta observance
• नक्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• समाचरेत्: should practice
• समाचरेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘should practice’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Dharma/Vrata context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineages in the Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nakta (night-meal observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches a graded refinement of austerity: moving from mere abstention (fasting) toward disciplined, non-demanding livelihood and regulated consumption, culminating in nakta as a balanced, sustainable tapas.

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

By recommending restraint and contentment (accepting what comes without insistence), it supports a sattvic life that steadies the mind—an essential foundation for sustained Vishnu-bhakti and regular worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly reflects Kalpa (ritual discipline) through vrata-vidhi and niyamas—practical rules for regulated eating and conduct rather than grammar or astrology.