Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 38

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

मुहूर्तार्धावशिष्टायां द्वादश्यां पारणं प्रति । चिन्तयामास धर्मज्ञो द्विजैस्तद्धर्मसङ्कटे ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

muhūrtārdhāvaśiṣṭāyāṁ dvādaśyāṁ pāraṇaṁ prati cintayām āsa dharma-jño dvijais tad-dharma-saṅkaṭe

Translation

Inzwischen blieb am Tag der Dvādaśī nur noch eine halbe Muhūrta, um das Pāraṇa zu vollziehen. Daher beriet sich Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, kundig in Dharma, in dieser heiklen Lage mit gelehrten Brāhmaṇas.

Synonyms

• muhūrta-ardha-avaśiṣṭāyām: when half a muhūrta remained
• muhūrta-ardha-avaśiṣṭāyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + avaśiṣṭa (√śiṣ, धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('with half a muhūrta remaining'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (agreeing with dvādaśyām), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvādaśyām: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāraṇam: the breaking of the fast
• pāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• prati: towards; with regard to
• prati: Pratiyogin/Direction (प्रति-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• cintayām: thought; considered
• cintayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect) (periphrastic with āsa), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• āsa: was (auxiliary)
• āsa: Sahakāri-kriyā (सहकारी-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary)

• dharma-jñaḥ: the knower of dharma
• dharma-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('knower of dharma'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvijaiḥ: with/among the brāhmaṇas
• dvijaiḥ: Sahakāri/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tad-dharma-saṅkaṭe: in that dharma-crisis
• tad-dharma-saṅkaṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('in that dharma-dilemma/crisis'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• brāhmaṇas (dvijas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Dvādaśī pāraṇa (breaking the Ekādaśī fast)?

This verse shows that pāraṇa on Dvādaśī is time-sensitive and must be done properly; even a great devotee like Ambarīṣa carefully consults brāhmaṇas when dharma becomes complex.

Why was Ambarīṣa Mahārāja in a dharma-saṅkaṭa (religious dilemma) in this episode?

Because the correct time window for breaking the fast was about to end while an honored guest (Durvāsā’s situation in the narrative) created a conflict between etiquette and the strict timing of the vow.

Practical application: what should a devotee do when religious duties seem to conflict?

Follow the Bhagavatam’s mood shown here—pause, seek guidance from qualified practitioners/teachers, and choose the course that best preserves devotion and dharma rather than acting impulsively.