Shloka 13

The Description of the Glory of Dvādaśī

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च । एकादश्युपवासस्य कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

aśvamedhasahasrāṇi rājasūyaśatāni ca | ekādaśyupavāsasya kalāṃ nārhaṃti ṣoḍaśīm || 13 ||

Translation

Even a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices and a hundred Rājasūya rites do not equal even one sixteenth part of the merit of fasting on Ekādaśī.

Word by Word

• अश्वमेधसहस्राणि: thousands of Aśvamedha sacrifices
• अश्वमेधसहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अश्वमेधस्य सहस्राणि = 'thousands of Aśvamedhas'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• राजसूयशतानि: hundreds of Rājasūya sacrifices
• राजसूयशतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास ('hundreds of Rājasūya'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• एकादशी-उपवासस्य: of the Ekādaśī fast
• एकादशी-उपवासस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (एकादश्याः उपवासः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• कलाम्: a fraction; a part
• कलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negative particle)

• अर्हन्ति: are worthy of; equal
• अर्हन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• षोडशीम्: a sixteenth part
• षोडशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षोडशी = 'sixteenth part'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada about Ekādaśī-vrata)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-upavāsa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Ashvamedha
• Rajasuya

FAQs

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

It elevates Ekādaśī-upavāsa as a supremely effective dharmic practice, teaching that inner discipline and devotion can surpass even the greatest royal Vedic sacrifices in spiritual merit.

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

By ranking Ekādaśī fasting above grand sacrifices, the verse emphasizes accessible, devotion-centered practice—self-restraint and God-oriented observance—over costly ritual display, aligning with Vaiṣṇava bhakti ideals.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual hierarchy and the concept of comparative phala (results) in dharma-śāstra style teaching—how different yajñas and vratas are evaluated by their spiritual efficacy.