What is pāraṇa time, and what if I miss it?

break the fast on Dvādaśī after sunrise and before Dvādaśī ends, avoiding the first quarter (Hari Vāsara); if you miss it, break it as soon as you can with prayer.

An Ekādaśī fast is complete only when it is properly broken, so the pāraṇa matters. The rule is to break it on Dvādaśī, after sunrise, within Dvādaśī tithi. The first quarter of Dvādaśī, called Hari Vāsara, is avoided, and many prefer the morning rather than midday. Panchangs and Chiluka’s Today page show the pāraṇa window for your city.

A common way is to first take a little water with a tulasī leaf, or charaṇāmṛta, then a simple sāttvic meal; some begin with a few grains of rice or amla. If Dvādaśī ends very early, break the fast early after sunrise even if it is brief.

If you miss the window because of work or sleep, don’t be anxious. Offer a short prayer asking forgiveness, break the fast as soon as possible, and remember the timing next time. Devotion is not cancelled by a clock.

Hari Vāsara = first quarter of Dvādaśī · Source: Nirṇayasindhu; Hari-bhakti-vilāsa

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