Shloka 22

Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka

Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle

Devanagari script

उत्सन्नाः पितृदेवेज्यास्तीर्थदानादिसत्क्रियाः । मुक्त्वैकां द्वादशीं मर्त्या नान्यं जानंति ते व्रतम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

utsannāḥ pitṛdevejyāstīrthadānādisatkriyāḥ | muktvaikāṃ dvādaśīṃ martyā nānyaṃ jānaṃti te vratam || 22 ||

Translation

Pour les mortels, les rites d’offrandes aux ancêtres et le culte des dieux, les bains aux tīrtha, la charité et les autres actes méritoires semblent comme délaissés; car, hormis l’unique observance de Dvādaśī, ils ne reconnaissent aucun autre vœu.

Word by Word

• उत्सन्नाः: ruined, discontinued
• उत्सन्नाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्सन्न (कृदन्त; √सद्/सन् with उत्; ‘to perish/decline’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate adjective

• पितृदेवेज्याः: worship/rites for ancestors and gods
• पितृदेवेज्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + देव + इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘पितॄणां (इज्या) + देवानां (इज्या)’ i.e., rites to Pitṛs and Devas

• तीर्थदानादिसत्क्रियाः: good rites like pilgrimages, charity, etc.
• तीर्थदानादिसत्क्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + दान + आदि + सत्क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘तीर्थ(गमन)दान-आदि सत्क्रियाः’ (good acts like pilgrimages, gifts, etc.)

• मुक्त्वा: having left; excepting
• मुक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); ‘having left/excepting’

• एकाम्: one (single)
• एकाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with द्वादशीम्

• द्वादशीम्: the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; tithi-name

• मर्त्याः: mortals
• मर्त्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यम्: other
• अन्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with व्रतम्

• जानन्ति: know/recognize
• जानन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Dvādaśī

FAQs

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

It elevates the Dvādaśī observance as a singularly paramount vrata—so central that other merit-acts (pitṛ rites, deva worship, tīrtha, dāna) are portrayed as secondary in comparison.

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

By prioritizing a specific sacred observance (Dvādaśī) associated with sustained devotional discipline, it frames bhakti as focused, regular, and vow-centered rather than merely a collection of occasional rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (lunar tithi-based timing) are implied, since the verse hinges on correctly observing Dvādaśī as a calendrical vrata and placing other rites in a hierarchy of practice.