Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

यदा त्वाषाढशुक्लायां द्वादश्यां मैत्रभं भवेत् । तदा व्रतद्वयं कार्य्यं न दोषोऽत्रैकदैवतम् ॥ ११४ ॥

Transliteration

yadā tvāṣāḍhaśuklāyāṃ dvādaśyāṃ maitrabhaṃ bhavet | tadā vratadvayaṃ kāryyaṃ na doṣo'traikadaivatam || 114 ||

Translation

Lorsque, dans la quinzaine claire d’Āṣāḍha, le douzième jour lunaire (Dvādaśī) tombe sous le nakṣatra Maitra, il convient d’accomplir les deux observances; en ce cas, il n’y a aucune faute à n’avoir qu’une seule divinité présidente pour le rite conjoint.

Word by Word

• yadā: when
• yadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'when'

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (particle): emphasis/contrast 'indeed/but'

• āṣāḍha-śuklāyām: in (the) Āṣāḍha bright fortnight
• āṣāḍha-śuklāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + śuklā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (āṣāḍhasya śuklāyām) = 'in the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha'

• dvādaśyām: on Dvādaśī
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'on the twelfth lunar day'

• maitrabham: (the nakṣatra) Maitrabha
• maitrabham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitrabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नक्षत्रनाम (name of a nakṣatra)

• bhavet: should occur/be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'may be/should occur'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'then'

• vrata-dvayam: two vows (a pair of vows)
• vrata-dvayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vratānāṃ dvayam) = 'a pair of vows'

• kāryam: to be performed
• kāryam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kārya (कृदन्त, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/कर्तव्यतार्थक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'to be done/should be performed' (agrees with vrata-dvayam)

• na: not/no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• doṣaḥ: fault
• doṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb): 'here/in this matter'

• eka-daivatam: (there is) one deity (only)
• eka-daivatam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (ekaṃ daivatam) = 'one deity (only)'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/kalā-nirṇaya context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (with instruction to perform vratadvaya—two observances—when the calendrical condition occurs)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Āṣāḍha
• Dvādaśī
• Maitra Nakṣatra (Anurādhā)

FAQs

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

It teaches that correct timing (tithi–nakṣatra alignment) can authorize combining observances, preserving dharma while maintaining the intended devotional merit of the vows.

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

By emphasizing vrata-performance on auspicious calendrical conditions, it supports disciplined worship—typically oriented to Viṣṇu on Dvādaśī—where devotion is expressed through regulated, scripture-guided practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it uses tithi (Dvādaśī) and nakṣatra (Maitra/Anurādhā) to decide ritual procedure, including when two vratas may be performed together without doṣa.