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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

एवं नियमकृद्विप्र उपवासं समाचरेत् । शक्तोऽशक्तुस्तु मतिमानेकभुक्तं न नक्तकम् ॥ ९१ ॥

evaṃ niyamakṛdvipra upavāsaṃ samācaret | śakto'śaktustu matimānekabhuktaṃ na naktakam || 91 ||

ดังนี้แล โอ้พราหมณ์ ผู้รักษาวินัยพึงปฏิบัติอุโปสถ/การอดอาหารตามแบบแผน. ผู้มีปัญญา—จะมีกำลังหรือไม่—พึงถือเอกภุกตะ (กินครั้งเดียว) มิใช่นักตกะ (กินกลางคืน)۔

evamthus/in this manner
evam:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootevam (अव्यय)
FormPrakāra-avyaya (प्रकार-अव्यय) adverb
niyama-kṛtone who performs observances
niyama-kṛt:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootniyama + kṛt (कृदन्त, √kṛ)
FormTatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = niyama-kṛt; kṛdanta (कृदन्त) - kṛt-pratyaya (कृत्) ‘kṛt’ (agent); Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
vipraḥa brāhmaṇa
vipraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
upavāsamfasting
upavāsam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootupavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
samācaretshould practice/observe
samācaret:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam + ā + car (चर् धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
śaktaḥone who is able
śaktaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśakta (प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle from √śak)
FormKṛdanta (कृदन्त) PPP; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
aśaktuḥof one who is unable
aśaktuḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Roota-śaktu (प्रातिपदिक; from √śak with negation)
FormKṛdanta (कृदन्त) (agent/ability stem); Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
tubut
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormNipāta (निपात) adversative/contrast particle
matimānwise/discerning
matimān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmatimat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
eka-bhuktamsingle meal (once-eaten regimen)
eka-bhuktam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rooteka + bhukta (कृदन्त, √bhuj)
FormTatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = eka-bhukta; kṛdanta (कृदन्त) PPP; Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormPratiṣedha-avyaya (प्रतिषेध-अव्यय) negation
naktakamnight-only eating (naktavrata)
naktakam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnaktaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Narada (instructional voice within the Narada Purana’s vrata-niyama discourse)

Vrata: Upavāsa (fasting) / Ekabhukta observance

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

It emphasizes that vrata is sustained by niyama (disciplined restraint) and that a wise, workable austerity—like ekabhukta—can preserve steadiness in dharma better than less disciplined patterns such as night-eating.

By recommending regulated living and controlled intake, the verse supports the devotional principle that the body and senses should be governed so the mind remains fit for remembrance, worship, and steady practice.

It reflects Kalpa-style procedural dharma (ritual and vow-regulation): defining permissible food-timing and the hierarchy of observances (upavasa, ekabhukta, naktaka) as practical rules for vrata performance.