Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

सर्वैरेकादशी ग्राह्या दशमीपरिवर्जिता । दशमीसंयुता हंतिपुण्यं जन्मत्रयार्जितम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

sarvairekādaśī grāhyā daśamīparivarjitā | daśamīsaṃyutā haṃtipuṇyaṃ janmatrayārjitam || 40 ||

Translation

Alle sollen Ekādaśī nur dann begehen, wenn sie frei vom Einfluss der Daśamī ist. Denn eine mit Daśamī verbundene Ekādaśī vernichtet das Verdienst, das in drei Geburten erworben wurde.

Word by Word

• sarvaiḥ: by all (people)
• sarvaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument; ‘by all’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ekādaśī: Ekādaśī (11th lunar day)
• ekādaśī: Karma (कर्म/Object of obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• grāhyā: should be observed
• grāhyā: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु); -ya (क्तव्य/gerundive)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तव्य/तव्यत्-अर्थ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; “to be observed/accepted”

• daśamī-parivarjitā: excluding the Daśamī (10th)
• daśamī-parivarjitā: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśamī (प्रातिपदिक) + parivarjita (√vṛj/√varj धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः “दशम्या परिवर्जिता” (excluded of the tenth)

• daśamī-saṃyutā: (Ekādaśī) combined with Daśamī
• daśamī-saṃyutā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśamī (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (√yuj धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः “दशम्या संयुता” (joined with Daśamī)

• hanti: destroys
• hanti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• janma-traya-arjitam: earned over three births
• janma-traya-arjitam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: janma (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + arjita (√arj धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः “जन्मत्रये अर्जितम्” (earned in three births)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Ekadashi
• Dashami

FAQs

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

It stresses tithi-śuddhi (purity of the lunar day): an Ekādaśī observance must be properly timed, because an impure (Daśamī-mixed) Ekādaśī is said to negate previously earned spiritual merit.

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

By insisting on correct Ekādaśī practice, it frames devotion as disciplined worship—Bhakti expressed through a precise vrata that honors Viṣṇu with right time, restraint, and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga time-reckoning (tithi determination), specifically avoiding “Daśamī-saṃyukta” (Daśamī-viddha) Ekādaśī when planning the vrata.