Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

संपूर्णैकादशी शुद्धा द्वादश्यां च प्रतीयते । त्रयोदशी च रात्र्यंते तत्र वक्ष्यामि निर्णयम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

saṃpūrṇaikādaśī śuddhā dvādaśyāṃ ca pratīyate | trayodaśī ca rātryaṃte tatra vakṣyāmi nirṇayam || 42 ||

Translation

Quando a Ekādaśī está completa e pura, deve-se entendê-la como ligada à Dvādaśī; e se ela se estender até o fim da noite de Trayodaśī, então declararei a determinação correta para essa observância.

Word by Word

• संपूर्ण-एकादशी: the complete Ekādaśī (fast-day)
• संपूर्ण-एकादशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• शुद्धा: pure/undefiled
• शुद्धा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• द्वादश्याम्: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

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

• प्रतीयते: is understood/recognized
• प्रतीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (is understood/recognized)

• त्रयोदशी: the Trayodaśī (13th lunar day)
• त्रयोदशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अन्वये विषयः)

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

• रात्रि-अन्ते: at the end of the night
• रात्रि-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रात्रेः अन्तः) ; अधिकरणम्

• तत्र: there/in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• वक्ष्यामि: I will state
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निर्णयम्: the determination/decision
• निर्णयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Dvadashi
• Trayodashi

FAQs

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

It frames Ekādaśī as a dharmic vrata requiring correct timing (nirṇaya); purity of the tithi safeguards the spiritual merit of the vow and its Vishnu-oriented devotional purpose.

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

By emphasizing precise observance of Ekādaśī, it supports disciplined bhakti—devotion expressed through regulated fasting and adherence to sacred time, rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa/Kalpa-style tithi-nirṇaya: recognizing when Ekādaśī is “śuddhā” and how to decide observance when it overlaps into Dvādaśī or even extends toward Trayodaśī night-end.