Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एकादश्यामिषे शुक्ले विप्र पाशांकुशाह्वयाम् । उपोष्य विधिवद्विष्णोर्दिने विष्णुं समर्चयेत् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśyāmiṣe śukle vipra pāśāṃkuśāhvayām | upoṣya vidhivadviṣṇordine viṣṇuṃ samarcayet || 45 ||

Translation

O Brāhmaṇa, am Ekādaśī der hellen Monatshälfte, der Pāśāṅkuśā genannt wird, soll man fasten und am Viṣṇu geweihten Tag den Herrn Viṣṇu nach rechter Vorschrift verehren.

Word by Word

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī
• एकादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• इषे: in (the period/month) Iṣa
• इषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; मासनाम/विशेषतिथि-सम्बन्धः (contextual: ‘in the month/period called Iṣa’)

• शुक्ले: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्ले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पक्षवाचक (in the bright fortnight)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पाशांकुशाह्वयाम्: on (the Ekādaśī) called Pāśāṅkuśā
• पाशांकुशाह्वयाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश-अंकुश-आह्वया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः (नामधेय) तत्पुरुषः: पाशाङ्कुश-इति-आह्वया (so-called ‘Pāśāṅkuśā’)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having fasted’

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधिवत्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘according to rule’

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• दिने: on the day
• दिने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• समर्चयेत्: should worship
• समर्चयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pāśāṅkuśā Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi
• Pāśāṅkuśā (Ekādaśī)

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined fasting (upavāsa) on the sacred Ekādaśī and proper worship of Viṣṇu are direct supports for purification and devotion, making the day spiritually potent.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through concrete devotional discipline: observing Ekādaśī with fasting and offering reverent, rule-based worship to Viṣṇu, aligning personal conduct with devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure and calendrical observance—practical application of timekeeping (Jyotiṣa for tithi/fortnight) and correct ritual method (kalpa-style vidhi) for Ekādaśī worship.