Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 38

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

मुहूर्तार्धावशिष्टायां द्वादश्यां पारणं प्रति । चिन्तयामास धर्मज्ञो द्विजैस्तद्धर्मसङ्कटे ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

muhūrtārdhāvaśiṣṭāyāṁ dvādaśyāṁ pāraṇaṁ prati cintayām āsa dharma-jño dvijais tad-dharma-saṅkaṭe

Translation

Enquanto isso, no dia de Dvādaśī restava apenas meio muhūrta para realizar o pāraṇa. Por isso, o Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, conhecedor do dharma, naquela situação crítica consultou os brāhmaṇas eruditos.

Synonyms

• muhūrta-ardha-avaśiṣṭāyām: when half a muhūrta remained
• muhūrta-ardha-avaśiṣṭāyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + avaśiṣṭa (√śiṣ, धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('with half a muhūrta remaining'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (agreeing with dvādaśyām), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvādaśyām: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāraṇam: the breaking of the fast
• pāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• prati: towards; with regard to
• prati: Pratiyogin/Direction (प्रति-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• cintayām: thought; considered
• cintayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect) (periphrastic with āsa), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• āsa: was (auxiliary)
• āsa: Sahakāri-kriyā (सहकारी-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary)

• dharma-jñaḥ: the knower of dharma
• dharma-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('knower of dharma'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvijaiḥ: with/among the brāhmaṇas
• dvijaiḥ: Sahakāri/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tad-dharma-saṅkaṭe: in that dharma-crisis
• tad-dharma-saṅkaṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('in that dharma-dilemma/crisis'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• brāhmaṇas (dvijas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Dvādaśī pāraṇa (breaking the Ekādaśī fast)?

This verse shows that pāraṇa on Dvādaśī is time-sensitive and must be done properly; even a great devotee like Ambarīṣa carefully consults brāhmaṇas when dharma becomes complex.

Why was Ambarīṣa Mahārāja in a dharma-saṅkaṭa (religious dilemma) in this episode?

Because the correct time window for breaking the fast was about to end while an honored guest (Durvāsā’s situation in the narrative) created a conflict between etiquette and the strict timing of the vow.

Practical application: what should a devotee do when religious duties seem to conflict?

Follow the Bhagavatam’s mood shown here—pause, seek guidance from qualified practitioners/teachers, and choose the course that best preserves devotion and dharma rather than acting impulsively.