Shloka 8

The Description of the Glory of Dvādaśī

Devanagari script

अवाप्य वासरं विष्णोर्यो नरः संयतेंद्रियः । उपवासपरो भूत्वा पूजयेन्मधुसूदनम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

avāpya vāsaraṃ viṣṇoryo naraḥ saṃyateṃdriyaḥ | upavāsaparo bhūtvā pūjayenmadhusūdanam || 8 ||

Translation

Having obtained a day sacred to Viṣṇu, a man who has mastered his senses should devote himself to fasting and worship Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• avāpya: having obtained
• avāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त—ल्यप्), 'having obtained/attained'

• vāsaram: a day
• vāsaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th—षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃyata-indriyaḥ: self-controlled (with restrained senses)
• saṃyata-indriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (कृदन्त—क्त, from sam-yam धातु) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'controlled + senses' = 'one whose senses are controlled'

• upavāsa-paraḥ: intent on fasting
• upavāsa-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'devoted to fasting'

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त—क्त्वा), 'having become'

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• madhusūdanam: Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu)
• madhusūdanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu-sūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Viṣṇu

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada, Uttara-Bhaga teaching style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Vishnu-vāsara (holy day of Vishnu; contextually Ekadashi-related)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhusudana

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred time (a Viṣṇu-day) becomes spiritually fruitful when joined with self-restraint, fasting, and direct worship—linking inner discipline (saṃyama) with devotional practice (pūjā).

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

Bhakti is presented as practical and embodied: restrain the senses, adopt upavāsa as a supportive vow, and worship Madhusūdana—showing devotion expressed through regulated conduct and ritual reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly uses Kalpa (ritual discipline) through the rule of upavāsa and pūjā on a Viṣṇu-designated day, emphasizing correct observance (vrata-niyama) rather than linguistic or astrological detail.