Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

एकादश्या व्रतं नित्यं द्वादश्याः सहितं यतः । नोद्यापनमिहोद्दिष्टं कर्त्तव्यं जीविताविधि ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśyā vrataṃ nityaṃ dvādaśyāḥ sahitaṃ yataḥ | nodyāpanamihoddiṣṭaṃ karttavyaṃ jīvitāvidhi || 117 ||

Translation

Da das Ekādaśī-Gelübde regelmäßig, zusammen mit den Observanzen des Dvādaśī, zu halten ist, wird hier kein gesondertes Abschlussritual (udyāpana) gelehrt; es ist als lebenslange Übung zu praktizieren.

Word by Word

• ekādaśyāḥ: of Ekādaśī
• ekādaśyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; 'of Ekādaśī'

• vratam: vow
• vratam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative): 'always/regularly'

• dvādaśyāḥ: of Dvādaśī
• dvādaśyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of Dvādaśī'

• sahitam: together with
• sahitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'accompanied/combined' (with Dvādaśī)

• yataḥ: because
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal indeclinable): 'because/since'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• udyāpanam: concluding rite
• udyāpanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udyāpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'concluding rite/termination ceremony'

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय: 'here/in this (vow)'

• uddiṣṭam: prescribed
• uddiṣṭam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√diś (धातु) → uddiṣṭa (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'is prescribed' (with udyāpanam)

• karttavyam: to be done
• karttavyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kartavya (कृदन्त, कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'to be done/should be done'

• jīvita-avidhiḥ: a life-long rule
• jīvita-avidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक) + avidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (jīvitasya avidhiḥ) = 'rule/limit regarding life' (i.e., as long as one lives)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-vrata (nitya), observed together with Dvādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Ekadashi
• Dvadashi

FAQs

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

It frames Ekādaśī not as a one-time vow needing a closing ceremony, but as a continuous, lifelong devotional discipline—especially when completed properly with Dvādaśī observances.

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

By emphasizing regular Ekādaśī practice (with Dvādaśī completion), it promotes steady, repeated dedication—an expression of sustained Vishnu-bhakti through disciplined restraint and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical/ritual precision—observing the tithi sequence (Ekādaśī with Dvādaśī), which aligns with Jyotiṣa-based timing and proper vrata procedure (including Dvādaśī completion rather than a separate udyāpana).