Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

एकादश्यां सोपवासः समभ्यर्च्य विधानतः । सौवर्णीं प्रतिमां विष्णोर्निशायां जागरं चरेत् ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśyāṃ sopavāsaḥ samabhyarcya vidhānataḥ | sauvarṇīṃ pratimāṃ viṣṇorniśāyāṃ jāgaraṃ caret || 70 ||

Translation

Am Ekādaśī-Tag soll man im Fasten (upavāsa) Śrī Viṣṇu nach der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung verehren; und nachdem man ein goldenes Bildnis Viṣṇus dargebracht oder aufgestellt hat, soll man die ganze Nacht hindurch in heiliger Wachsamkeit wachen (jāgara).

Word by Word

• ekādaśyām: on the Ekadashi (11th lunar day)
• ekādaśyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), सप्तमी (Loc) एकवचन (sg)

• sa-upavāsaḥ: observing a fast
• sa-upavāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom) एकवचन (sg); अव्ययीभाव: “with fasting” (fasting-observing)

• samabhyarcya: having worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abh-arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having duly worshipped”

• vidhānataḥ: according to the prescribed procedure
• vidhānataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), “according to rule”

• sauvarṇīm: golden
• sauvarṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg); विशेषण of pratimām

• pratimām: image/idol
• pratimām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Vishnu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), षष्ठी (Gen) एकवचन (sg)

• niśāyām: in the night
• niśāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), सप्तमी (Loc) एकवचन (sg)

• jāgaram: vigil (wakefulness)
• jāgaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg)

• caret: should perform/observe
• caret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (teaching in the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: 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 frames Ekādaśī as a disciplined Vaiṣṇava vrata: fasting, rule-based worship, and night vigil together cultivate devotion, self-restraint, and continuous remembrance of Viṣṇu.

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

Bhakti is expressed through concrete practices—upavāsa (austerity offered to God), arcana (ritual worship), and jāgaraṇa (staying awake in kīrtana/smaraṇa)—all centered on Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (vidhi) and calendrical observance of Ekādaśī based on tithi (lunar day) are implied—practical dharma grounded in time-reckoning and proper worship protocol.