Shloka 2

Tithi-vicara

Determination of Tithi for Fasts, Parana, and Pitri Rites

Devanagari script

स तु पृष्टो महाभाग एकादश्याः सुविस्तरम् । माहात्म्यं कथयामास उपवासविधिं तथा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

sa tu pṛṣṭo mahābhāga ekādaśyāḥ suvistaram | māhātmyaṃ kathayāmāsa upavāsavidhiṃ tathā || 2 ||

Translation

When that noble one was questioned, he then explained in full detail the greatness of Ekādaśī, and also the proper method of fasting.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun referring to Sūta

• tu: indeed; however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (तु—contrast/emphasis)

• pṛṣṭaḥ: asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective to 'saḥ')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √prach (धातु) (प्रच्छ्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'having been asked'

• mahā-bhāga: O greatly fortunate one
• mahā-bhāga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय 'great-fortuned', address to Sūta

• ekādaśyāḥ: of Ekādaśī
• ekādaśyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• su-vistaram: in great detail
• su-vistaram: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-प्राय) + vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (अव्ययीभाव-अव्यय), meaning 'in great detail'

• māhātmyam: greatness; glory
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म/object of 'kathayāmāsa')
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathayāmāsa: narrated; told
• kathayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु) (कथ्) + ā (उपसर्ग) + māsa (लिट्-प्रयोगः periphrastic perfect)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्/परस्मैपद, परोक्षभूत), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• upavāsa-vidhim: the rule of fasting
• upavāsa-vidhim: Karma (कर्म/co-object of 'kathayāmāsa')
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष 'rule/method of fasting'

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb/conjunction 'also; likewise'

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in response to Nārada’s inquiry)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ekādaśī
• Upavāsa

FAQs

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

It marks the formal beginning of the Ekādaśī teaching: the text promises both the māhātmya (spiritual glory) and the upavāsa-vidhi (practical observance), showing that devotion is supported by disciplined vrata-practice.

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

By presenting Ekādaśī as worthy of detailed praise and practice, the verse frames fasting as a concrete expression of bhakti—devotion embodied through regulated conduct, remembrance, and restraint.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure is emphasized through the term upavāsa-vidhi—rule-based vrata practice (dharma-vidhi). While not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it reflects applied kalpa-style discipline in observance.