Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

पायसान्नेन खंडाज्यसहितेन हितेन च । एवं कृत्वैकभक्तः सन्विष्णु चिंतनतत्परः ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

pāyasānnena khaṃḍājyasahitena hitena ca | evaṃ kṛtvaikabhaktaḥ sanviṣṇu ciṃtanatatparaḥ || 88 ||

Translation

खडीसाखर व तूप यांसह हितकर पायस अन्न सेवन करावे. असे करून त्या दिवशी एकभक्त राहून भगवान विष्णूच्या चिंतनात तत्पर राहावे.

Word by Word

• पायस-अन्नेन: with rice cooked in milk (pāyasa-food)
• पायस-अन्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष ‘पायसं अन्नम्’; करण

• खण्ड-आज्य-सहितेन: together with sugar pieces and ghee
• खण्ड-आज्य-सहितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त, √सह धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘खण्डेन आज्येन च सहित’ इति; ‘पायस-अन्नेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; करण

• हितेन: wholesome/beneficial
• हितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √धा धातु; ‘placed/beneficial’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘पायस-अन्नेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• कृत्वा: having done (so)
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having done’

• एक-भक्तः: eating once (a day)
• एक-भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √भज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘एकं भक्तं (भोजनं) यस्य/एकवारं भुङ्क्ते’; कर्तृविशेषण

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘being’

• विष्णु: Viṣṇu
• विष्णु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; चिन्तनस्य विषयत्वेन कर्म

• चिन्तन-तत्परः: intent on contemplation
• चिन्तन-तत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘चिन्तने तत्परः’; कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana dialogue tradition, commonly framed with the Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (dietary/niyama component; ekabhakta)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links simple, sattvic nourishment with disciplined restraint (ekabhakta) and centers the practice on Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (constant remembrance), making daily conduct itself a form of devotion.

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

Bhakti is shown as both inner and outer: a regulated act (single meal, wholesome food) paired with an inner focus—being continually intent on contemplating Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa-style practical ritual discipline (vrata/niyama): what to consume, how to observe ekabhakta, and how to align bodily practice with devotional meditation.