Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

कार्तिके कृष्णपक्षे तु एकादश्यां द्विजोत्तम । रमामुपोष्य विधिवद्द्वादश्यां प्रातरर्चयेत् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

kārtike kṛṣṇapakṣe tu ekādaśyāṃ dvijottama | ramāmupoṣya vidhivaddvādaśyāṃ prātararcayet || 48 ||

Translation

Ô le meilleur des deux-fois-nés, durant la quinzaine sombre de Kārtika, au jour d’Ekādaśī, qu’on observe le jeûne pour Ramā ; puis, au matin de Dvādaśī, qu’on l’adore selon le rite prescrit.

Word by Word

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• कृष्ण-पक्षे: in the dark fortnight
• कृष्ण-पक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: कृष्णः पक्षः (dark fortnight)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; तिथ्यधिकरण (on Ekādaśī)

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: द्विजानाम् उत्तमः (best of Brahmins)

• रमाम्: Rāmā (Lakṣmī)
• रमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; उपास्य/अर्च्य देवता (object of worship)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-वास् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); उपोष्य = उपवासं कृत्वा (having fasted)

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

• द्वादश्याम्: on Dvādaśī
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; तिथ्यधिकरण (on Dvādaśī)

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in the morning)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Imperative sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; विधिवचन (injunctive)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within the Narada Purana dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī fast for Ramā (Lakṣmī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ramā (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined devotion through vrata: fasting on Ekādaśī and completing it with proper morning worship on Dvādaśī, framing bhakti as a regulated sacred practice.

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

Bhakti is expressed through observance (upoṣa) and worship (arcana) done vidhivat—devotion aligned with scriptural procedure rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa-based calendrical discipline are implied: observing Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī in Kārtika’s kṛṣṇapakṣa and performing prātaḥ-arcana at the proper time.