Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

संभोज्य विप्रान्मुच्येत पातकेभ्यो न संशयः । ज्येष्ठस्य कृष्णकादश्यां समुपोष्य परां नृप ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhojya viprānmucyeta pātakebhyo na saṃśayaḥ | jyeṣṭhasya kṛṣṇakādaśyāṃ samupoṣya parāṃ nṛpa || 12 ||

Translation

การเลี้ยงภัตตาหารแก่พราหมณ์ย่อมทำให้พ้นบาปโดยไม่ต้องสงสัย โอ้พระราชาผู้ประเสริฐ เมื่อถืออุโบสถอดอาหารอย่างครบถ้วนในวันเอกาทศีข้างแรมเดือนเชษฐะ ย่อมบรรลุสภาวะสูงสุด

Word by Word

• saṃbhojya: having fed (after feeding)
• saṃbhojya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √भुज् with prefix सम्; indeclinable verbal form (avyaya-kriyā) meaning 'having fed/entertained'

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mucyeta: would be freed
• mucyeta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Present optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• pātakebhyaḥ: from sins
• pātakebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• jyeṣṭhasya: of (the month) Jyeṣṭha
• jyeṣṭhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); month-name 'Jyeṣṭha'

• kṛṣṇa-ekādaśyām: on the dark-fortnight Ekādaśī
• kṛṣṇa-ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'kṛṣṇāyāḥ ekādaśī' (dark-fortnight Ekādaśī)

• samupoṣya: having fasted
• samupoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-vas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √वस्/उपवस् 'to fast' with prefixes सम्+उप; indeclinable verbal form

• parām: supreme/strict (fast)
• parām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with implied 'ekādaśīm/upavāsam'

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to a king, within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī (Jyeṣṭha kṛṣṇa-ekādaśī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins
• Ekadashi
• Jyeshtha (month)

FAQs

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

It presents two classic Dharma practices—feeding learned Brahmins and observing Ekādaśī fasting—as powerful means of purification (pātaka-kṣaya) and as a direct aid toward the supreme spiritual goal.

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

Ekādaśī is traditionally dedicated to Hari/Vishnu; fasting and disciplined observance are framed here as devotion expressed through vrata, leading beyond mere merit to the “supreme” attainment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical/ritual precision—identifying the tithi (Ekādaśī), the pakṣa (kṛṣṇa), and the lunar month (Jyeṣṭha)—a practical application of Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) for correct vrata timing.