Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Tithi-Nirṇaya for Vratas: Ekādaśī Rules, Saṅkrānti Punya-kāla, Eclipse Observances, and Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां तु कलायां वा यदि लभ्येत पारणा । तदानीं दशमीविद्धाप्युपोष्यैकादशी तिथिः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ tu kalāyāṃ vā yadi labhyeta pāraṇā | tadānīṃ daśamīviddhāpyupoṣyaikādaśī tithiḥ || 44 ||

Translation

ദ്വാദശിയിൽ—അതി ചെറുഭാഗത്തിലും—പാരണ ലഭ്യമാകുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ, അപ്പോൾ ദശമീ-വിദ്ധമായാലും ഏകാദശി തിഥിയിൽ ഉപവാസം ആചരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on Dvādaśī
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• कलायाम्: in a (single) kalā (small time-unit)
• कलायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (काले)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional: ‘if’)

• लभ्येत: is obtainable/available
• लभ्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (should be obtained/available)

• पारणा: the breaking of the fast (pāraṇā)
• पारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता/विषयः (लभ्येत इत्यस्य)

• तदानीम्: then
• तदानीम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/at that time’)

• दशमी-विद्धा: pierced/tainted by Daśamī
• दशमी-विद्धा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √व्यध्/विद् ‘to pierce’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दशम्या विद्धा) ; विशेषणम् (एकादशी-तिथेः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘even/also’)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-वास् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having fasted’

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī
• एकादशी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तिथिः)

• तिथिः: the lunar day
• तिथिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Nārada (teaching the Sanatkumāra tradition on vrata-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekādaśī
• Dvādaśī
• Daśamī
• Pāraṇā

FAQs

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

It prioritizes correct completion of the Ekādaśī-vrata: if pāraṇā can be done on Dvādaśī (even briefly), one should still fast on Ekādaśī, protecting the sanctity and fruit of the vow.

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

By stressing careful observance of Ekādaśī and proper pāraṇā, it frames devotion as disciplined service (sevā) expressed through time-honored Vaiṣṇava vrata practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/Vedic calendrics applied to ritual: using tithi fractions (kalā) and ‘viddha’ overlap rules to decide the correct fasting day and the proper window for pāraṇā.