Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

पायसान्नेन खंडाज्यसहितेन हितेन च । एवं कृत्वैकभक्तः सन्विष्णु चिंतनतत्परः ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

pāyasānnena khaṃḍājyasahitena hitena ca | evaṃ kṛtvaikabhaktaḥ sanviṣṇu ciṃtanatatparaḥ || 88 ||

Translation

Er soll Pāyasa (süßen Milchreis) zusammen mit Zucker und Ghee in heilsamer Weise zu sich nehmen. Nachdem dies getan ist, soll er an jenem Tag nur eine Mahlzeit einnehmen und ganz auf die Betrachtung von Herrn Viṣṇu ausgerichtet bleiben.

Word by Word

• पायस-अन्नेन: with rice cooked in milk (pāyasa-food)
• पायस-अन्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष ‘पायसं अन्नम्’; करण

• खण्ड-आज्य-सहितेन: together with sugar pieces and ghee
• खण्ड-आज्य-सहितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त, √सह धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘खण्डेन आज्येन च सहित’ इति; ‘पायस-अन्नेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; करण

• हितेन: wholesome/beneficial
• हितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √धा धातु; ‘placed/beneficial’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘पायस-अन्नेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• कृत्वा: having done (so)
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having done’

• एक-भक्तः: eating once (a day)
• एक-भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √भज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘एकं भक्तं (भोजनं) यस्य/एकवारं भुङ्क्ते’; कर्तृविशेषण

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘being’

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

• चिन्तन-तत्परः: intent on contemplation
• चिन्तन-तत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘चिन्तने तत्परः’; कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana dialogue tradition, commonly framed with the Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (dietary/niyama component; ekabhakta)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links simple, sattvic nourishment with disciplined restraint (ekabhakta) and centers the practice on Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (constant remembrance), making daily conduct itself a form of devotion.

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

Bhakti is shown as both inner and outer: a regulated act (single meal, wholesome food) paired with an inner focus—being continually intent on contemplating Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa-style practical ritual discipline (vrata/niyama): what to consume, how to observe ekabhakta, and how to align bodily practice with devotional meditation.