Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

आषाढकृष्णैकादश्यां योगिनीं समुपोष्य वै । नारायणं समभ्यर्च्य द्वादश्यां कृतनित्यकः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

āṣāḍhakṛṣṇaikādaśyāṃ yoginīṃ samupoṣya vai | nārāyaṇaṃ samabhyarcya dvādaśyāṃ kṛtanityakaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Wahrlich, am Yoginī-Ekādaśī in der dunklen Hälfte des Monats Āṣāḍha soll man das Fasten ordnungsgemäß halten; nachdem man Nārāyaṇa verehrt hat, vollziehe man am Dvādaśī die täglichen Pflichten und Riten.

Word by Word

• āṣāḍha-kṛṣṇa-ekādaśyām: on the Āṣāḍha dark-fortnight Ekādaśī
• āṣāḍha-kṛṣṇa-ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—आषाढस्य कृष्णपक्षस्य एकादशी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• yoginīm: Yoginī (observance/vrata named Yoginī)
• yoginīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoginī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sam-upoṣya: having fasted (properly)
• sam-upoṣya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√vas (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), उपसर्गः सम्+उप; अर्थः—उपवासं कृत्वा (having fasted)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sam-abhyarcya: having duly worshipped
• sam-abhyarcya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), उपसर्गः सम्+अभि; अर्थः—सम्यगर्चनं कृत्वा (having worshipped)

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

• kṛta-nityakaḥ: one who has performed the daily rites
• kṛta-nityakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त/PPP from √kṛ) + nityaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—नित्यकर्म कृतवान् (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुषभावः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Yoginī Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents Yoginī Ekādaśī as a disciplined devotional practice: fasting (upavāsa) on Ekādaśī, worship of Nārāyaṇa, and then returning to dharmic normalcy by completing nitya-karma on Dvādaśī.

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

Bhakti is shown as structured worship—self-restraint through fasting and focused pūjā to Nārāyaṇa—where devotion is expressed through both inner control and outward ritual honoring Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical/ritual precision—observing Ekādaśī and Dvādaśī by tithi (lunar day), a practical application of jyotiṣa-based timing and nitya-karma discipline in vrata practice.