Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

त्यजेच्चत्वारि भुक्तानि नारदै तद्दिनत्रये । आद्यंतयोरेकमेकं मध्यमे द्वयमेव हि ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

tyajeccatvāri bhuktāni nāradai taddinatraye | ādyaṃtayorekamekaṃ madhyame dvayameva hi || 85 ||

Translation

Ô Nārada, durant l’observance de ces trois jours, il faut renoncer à quatre repas : un le premier jour, un le dernier, et deux le jour du milieu.

Word by Word

• tyajet: should abandon
• tyajet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (त्यज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (numeral)

• bhuktāni: (the) eatings/meals
• bhuktāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (past passive participle) used substantively, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘things eaten/meal-intakes’

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• tat: in that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (demonstrative)

• dina-traye: in the three-day period
• dina-traye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (‘त्रयः दिनाः’ → ‘दिनत्रयम्’; loc. ‘दिनत्रये’)

• ādya-antayoḥ: of the first and the last (days)
• ādya-antayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (‘आद्यश्च अन्तश्च’ = first and last)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Karma (कर्म/Object-quantity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• ekam: one (each)
• ekam: Karma (कर्म/Object-quantity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distribution)

• madhyame: in the middle (day)
• madhyame: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (दिने इति अध्याहारः)

• dvayam: two
• dvayam: Karma (कर्म/Object-quantity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (a pair/two)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), emphasis ‘only/indeed’

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), reason/emphasis ‘for/indeed’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches vrata-niyama (disciplined restraint): measured reduction of food over a defined period to support purity, steadiness of mind, and ritual efficacy.

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

By prescribing regulated self-control, it supports bhakti-sādhana: the devotee reduces sensory indulgence so attention can remain fixed on worship, japa, and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented ritual procedure is implied: the verse gives a precise vrata-vidhi schedule (how many meals to omit on which days), a hallmark of practical dharma/ritual instruction.