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 Na3Nd(ODA)(3) . 2NaClO(4) . 6H(2)O (NdODA), have been recorded at 4.2 K between 5000 and 30 000 cm(-1). 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 alpha and 16 pi polarized absorption Lines. The reliability of these intensity parameters is tested by simulating the more sensitive magneto-optical (magnetic circular dichroism) and chiroptical (circular dichroism) spectra.