Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

शुल्के वा यदि वा कृष्णे भवेदेकादशीद्वयम् । गृहस्थानां तु पूर्वोक्ता यतीनामुत्तरा स्मृता ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

śulke vā yadi vā kṛṣṇe bhavedekādaśīdvayam | gṛhasthānāṃ tu pūrvoktā yatīnāmuttarā smṛtā || 45 ||

Translation

Wenn in der hellen Monatshälfte (Śukla) oder in der dunklen (Kṛṣṇa) ein Paar von Ekādaśīs eintritt, dann ist für die Hausleute die frühere vorgeschrieben, während für die Yatis die spätere als Regel überliefert ist.

Word by Word

• शुक्ले: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्ले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (शुक्लपक्षे)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (if)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• कृष्णे: in the dark fortnight
• कृष्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (कृष्णपक्षे)

• भवेत्: should occur/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकादशी-द्वयम्: a pair of Ekādaśīs
• एकादशी-द्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (एकादश्योः द्वयम्) ; कर्ता

• गृहस्थानाम्: of householders
• गृहस्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (for/of householders)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• पूर्व-उक्ता: the earlier-mentioned (one)
• पूर्व-उक्ता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √वच्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (पूर्वं उक्ता) ; विशेषणम् (एकादशी)

• यतीनाम्: of ascetics
• यतीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• उत्तरा: the later (one)
• उत्तरा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (एकादशी)

• स्मृता: is regarded (as)
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्तः; कर्मणि/भावे (is considered/remembered)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Ekadashi-vrata discussion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Grihastha
• Yati

FAQs

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

It preserves the integrity of Ekadashi-vrata by giving a clear dharmic rule for rare calendrical overlaps, ensuring devotion and restraint are practiced correctly according to one’s āśrama (life stage).

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

By regulating Ekadashi observance for different practitioners, it supports steady Vishnu-bhakti through disciplined vrata practice—householders follow a feasible rule, while renunciants adopt the stricter option.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-oriented calendrical reasoning (tithi-based vrata timing) applied within Smṛti/Purāṇic ritual law—how to choose the correct Ekadashi when two occur in a fortnight.