Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तपस्यकृष्णैकादश्यां विजयां समुपोष्य वै । द्वादश्यां प्रातरभ्यर्च्य योगीशं गंधपूर्वकैः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

tapasyakṛṣṇaikādaśyāṃ vijayāṃ samupoṣya vai | dvādaśyāṃ prātarabhyarcya yogīśaṃ gaṃdhapūrvakaiḥ || 74 ||

Translation

Wahrlich, am dunklen Ekādaśī der Monat Tapasya (Phālguna) soll man das Vijayā-Fasten ordnungsgemäß einhalten; und am Morgen der Dvādaśī, nachdem die Verehrung begonnen hat, soll man den Herrn der Yogins mit Düften und dergleichen anbeten.

Word by Word

• तपसि: in the month Tapas
• तपसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (Sg); मास-नाम ‘in Tapas (month)’

• कृष्ण-एकादश्याम्: on the Kṛṣṇa Ekādaśī (dark fortnight)
• कृष्ण-एकादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (Sg); कर्मधारय: ‘dark-fortnight Ekādaśī’

• विजयाम्: (the vow) Vijayā
• विजयाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (Sg); (व्रतनाम)

• समुपोष्य: having fasted
• समुपोष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपवस्/उपोष् (धातु; सम्+उप+√वस्/√उपोष्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having fasted/observed upavāsa completely’

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• द्वादश्याम्: on Dvādaśī
• द्वादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन (Sg)

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु; अभि+√अर्च्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) of अभि+√अर्च्; ‘having worshipped’

• योगीशम्: Lord of yogis
• योगीशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (Sg)

• गन्ध-पूर्वकैः: with fragrant (offerings) etc.
• गन्ध-पूर्वकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr.), बहुवचन (Pl); तत्पुरुष: ‘with (offerings) preceded by fragrance’ i.e., with perfumes etc.

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Vijayā Ekādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that victory (vijayā) in spiritual practice is gained by disciplined Ekādaśī fasting followed by reverent Dvādaśī worship of Viṣṇu, the Lord of Yogins.

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

Bhakti is expressed through vrata-discipline (upavāsa on Ekādaśī) and loving pūjā on Dvādaśī using fragrant offerings—external acts that focus the mind on Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual timing based on the lunar tithi system (Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī) and the procedural sequence of a vrata: fasting first, then morning worship with prescribed upacāras like gandha.