Shloka 37

Devanagari script

उपोषणात्सकृद्देवि विनश्यंत्यघराशयः । एकतः पृथिवीदानमेकतो हरिवासरम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

upoṣaṇātsakṛddevi vinaśyaṃtyagharāśayaḥ | ekataḥ pṛthivīdānamekato harivāsaram || 37 ||

Translation

हे देवी, एकदाच उपोषण केले तरी पापराशी नष्ट होते. एका बाजूला पृथ्वीदान, आणि दुसऱ्या बाजूला हरिवासर—अशी त्याची महती आहे.

Word by Word

उपोषणात्from fasting

सकृत्once

देविO goddess

विनश्यन्तिperish/are destroyed

अघ-राशयःheaps of sins

एकतःon one side

पृथिवी-दानम्gift of the earth (land-donation)

एकतःon the other side

हरि-वासरम्Hari’s day (Ekādaśī/Viṣṇu’s fast-day)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressing as 'Devi' per the received verse-formula)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Harivāsara (commonly identified with Ekādaśī observance in later/parallel traditions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

Hari

Vishnu

FAQs

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

It proclaims the extraordinary purifying power of a single fast on Harivāsara (Ekādaśī), stating that it can destroy accumulated sins and is comparable to the highest forms of charity.

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

By centering practice on Hari’s sacred day, it frames Bhakti as disciplined devotion—observing Ekādaśī as an act of surrender and remembrance of Viṣṇu that yields profound inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implied: the verse emphasizes vrata-vidhi—structured observance of fasting on a specified sacred day (Harivāsara/Ekādaśī) as an authorized religious practice.