Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

श्रावणे कृष्णपक्षे तु एकादश्यां द्विजोत्तम । कामिकां समुपोष्यैव नियमेन नरोत्तम ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śrāvaṇe kṛṣṇapakṣe tu ekādaśyāṃ dvijottama | kāmikāṃ samupoṣyaiva niyamena narottama || 28 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng nhị sinh, vào nửa tháng tối của tháng Śrāvaṇa, đúng ngày Ekādaśī, người hiền nên giữ trai giới Kāmikā (Ekādaśī) với kỷ luật và các điều chế định.

Word by Word

• śrāvaṇe: in (the month of) Śrāvaṇa
• śrāvaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛṣṇa-pakṣe: in the dark fortnight
• kṛṣṇa-pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘dark’ + ‘fortnight’

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) indicating emphasis/contrast

• ekādaśyām: on Ekādaśī
• ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvija-uttama: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-uttama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समास: ‘best (uttama) among dvijas’

• kāmikām: the Kāmikā (vow/observance)
• kāmikām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samupoṣya: having observed a fast
• samupoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-vas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त) with prefix sam-upa; from √vas ‘to dwell/fast’ in sense ‘to fast’; ‘having duly fasted’

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) of emphasis

• niyamena: with discipline/according to rule
• niyamena: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nara-uttama: O best of men
• nara-uttama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समास

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kāmikā Ekādaśī (Kāmikā-vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Shravana
• Kamikā Ekādaśī

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined observance (niyama) of Kāmikā Ekādaśī in Śrāvaṇa’s kṛṣṇa-pakṣa, presenting vrata and fasting as a dharmic means to purify conduct and strengthen devotional resolve.

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

By prescribing Ekādaśī observance with restraint, it frames bhakti as a regulated devotional practice—worship expressed through self-control, fasting, and faithful adherence to sacred timings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical discipline—identifying Śrāvaṇa, kṛṣṇa-pakṣa, and Ekādaśī—reflecting practical jyotiṣa (Vedic time-reckoning) used to time vratas correctly.