This paper emphasizes the complementarity between optical and magneto-optical measurements on f elements. The magnetic circular dichroism, circular dichroism, and polarized absorption spectra of Na 3 Nd͑ODA͒ 3 •2NaClO 4 •6H 2 O ͑NdODA͒, have been recorded at 4.2 K between 5000 and 30 000 cm Ϫ1 . The electric dipole contributions to the f -f transitions are analyzed using a parametric model which contains 12 parameters which are determined by fitting the calculated to the empirical dipole strengths of 50 ␣ and 16 polarized absorption lines. The reliability of these intensity parameters is tested by simulating the more sensitive magneto-optical ͑magnetic circular dichroism͒ and chiroptical ͑circular dichroism͒ spectra.