Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स सर्वकामाँल्लब्ध्वेह याति विष्णोः परं पदम् । एकादश्यां नभःशुक्ले पवित्रां समुपोष्य वै ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

sa sarvakāmāṃllabdhveha yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam | ekādaśyāṃ nabhaḥśukle pavitrāṃ samupoṣya vai || 31 ||

Translation

بعد أن ينال في هذا العالم جميع مقاصده المرغوبة، يبلغ المقام الأعلى لفيشنو، إذ يصوم صومًا مُطهِّرًا على الوجه اللائق في يوم إكادشي من النصف المضيء من شهر نَبْهَس (بهادْرَپَدَا).

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-kāmān: all desires
• sarva-kāmān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय-समास: ‘all’ + ‘desires’

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त), from √labh; ‘having obtained’

• iha: here (in this world)
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘padam’

• padam: abode/state
• padam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• nabhaḥ-śukle: in the bright fortnight of Nabhas
• nabhaḥ-śukle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘in the bright (fortnight) of Nabhas (Bhādrapada)’

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

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

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) for emphasis

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pavitrā (Ekādaśī fast)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi
• Nabhas (Bhadrapada)

FAQs

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

It teaches that observing the purifying Ekādaśī fast (specifically in the bright fortnight of Nabhas/Bhādrapada) yields both worldly fulfillment and the highest spiritual goal—attainment of Viṣṇu’s supreme abode.

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined observance (vrata) centered on Viṣṇu; the verse links sincere devotional fasting on Ekādaśī with direct progress toward Viṣṇu’s paramam padam (supreme state).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical/ritual timing based on the lunar tithi system—Ekādaśī, Śukla Pakṣa, and the month Nabhas (Bhādrapada)—showing applied jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning for vrata observance.