Vamana Purana — Akhanda Ekadashi Vrata, Shloka 23

Akhaṇḍa-Ekādaśī Vrata and the Vaiṣṇava Protective Hymn; Prelude to the Kātyāyanī–Mahiṣāsura Narrative

Devanagari script

एवं संवत्सरं पूर्णं सोपवासो जितेन्द्रियः अघण्डं पारयेद् ब्रह्मन् व्रतं वै सर्ववस्तुषु

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ pūrṇaṃ sopavāso jitendriyaḥ aghaṇḍaṃ pārayed brahman vrataṃ vai sarvavastuṣu

Translation

Thus, having completed a full year—fasting and with the senses conquered—one should perform the pāraṇa, the concluding rite of the unbroken vow, O Brahman, with respect to all requisites and observances.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘thus/in this manner’

• संवत्सरम्: a year
• संवत्सरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; duration as object of completion

• पूर्णम्: complete
• पूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with संवत्सरम्

• स-उपवासः: with fasting
• स-उपवासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (उपवासेन सह) = ‘with fasting’

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita-indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येन’

• अखण्डम्: uninterruptedly
• अखण्डम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial accusative ‘without break/entirely’

• पारयेत्: should complete
• पारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pṛ (पारयति-धातु/causative of √pṝ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should carry through/complete’

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin/O sage
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle of emphasis ‘indeed’

• सर्ववस्तुषु: in all matters
• सर्ववस्तुषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-vastu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः/तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘in all things/with respect to all objects’

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicit in the input; commonly Pulastya instructing Nārada; vocative ‘brahman’ indicates instruction addressed to a brahmin/sage

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Upavāsa (fasting)
• Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint)
• Discipline over one year
• Completion/Pāraṇa

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames spiritual success as sustained practice: fasting (upavāsa) and sensory mastery (jitendriyatā) over time. Ethically it emphasizes perseverance and regulated living rather than episodic piety.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It belongs to the dharma/ācāra teaching function of Purāṇas (vrata-kathana/vidhi), rather than cosmogenesis or dynastic history. It is prescriptive ritual instruction appended to the broader purāṇic narrative frame.

What is the symbolic significance?

A ‘year’ symbolizes completeness and cyclic wholeness; ‘akhaṇḍa’ indicates continuity of intention. ‘Pāraṇa’ marks not merely ending a fast but integrating the vow’s discipline back into normal life—signifying transformation rather than mere abstinence.