Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

आषाढशुक्लैकादश्यां यद्विधानं श्रृणुष्व तत् । उपोष्य तस्मिन् दिवसे विधिवन्मंडपे शुभे ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

āṣāḍhaśuklaikādaśyāṃ yadvidhānaṃ śrṛṇuṣva tat | upoṣya tasmin divase vidhivanmaṃḍape śubhe || 19 ||

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ ആഷാഢ ശുക്ലപക്ഷ ഏകാദശിയുടെ വിധിവിധാനം കേൾക്കുക. ആ ദിവസം ഉപവസിച്ച്, ശുദ്ധവും ശുഭവും ആയ മണ്ഡപത്തിൽ നിയമപ്രകാരം കർമങ്ങൾ നിർവഹിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• āṣāḍha-śukla-ekādaśyām: on the Āṣāḍha bright-fortnight Ekādaśī
• āṣāḍha-śukla-ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—आषाढस्य शुक्लपक्षस्य एकादशी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• yat-vidhānam: the procedure which
• yat-vidhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—यत् विधानम् (सम्बन्ध/निर्देश)

• śrṛṇuṣva: listen
• śrṛṇuṣva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• upoṣya: having fasted
• upoṣya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√vas (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); अर्थः—उपवासं कृत्वा (having fasted)

• tasmin: on that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• divase: day
• divase: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• vidhi-vat: according to the prescribed rule
• vidhi-vat: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), प्रकारवाचक; अर्थः—विधिना युक्तम् (according to rule)

• maṃḍape: in the pavilion
• maṃḍape: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃḍapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śubhe: auspicious
• śubhe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्—मण्डपस्य

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instructing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī (Āṣāḍha śukla)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Ashadha

FAQs

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

It frames Āṣāḍha-śukla Ekādaśī as a rule-governed vrata: fasting (upavāsa) combined with properly performed worship in a sanctified space, emphasizing disciplined devotion rather than casual observance.

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

By directing the listener to fast and then carry out worship “according to rule” in an auspicious maṇḍapa, it presents bhakti as practiced devotion—purity, restraint, and orderly pūjā leading the mind toward Viṣṇu-centered worship (the typical Ekādaśī orientation).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through “vidhāna” and “vidhivat,” and Jyotiṣa/time-reckoning is implied by specifying the tithi (Ekādaśī) in Āṣāḍha-śukla; together they stress correct timing and correct method.