Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

एवं यः प्रयतः कुर्यात्पुण्यमेकादशीव्रतम् । स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ yaḥ prayataḥ kuryātpuṇyamekādaśīvratam | sa yāti viṣṇubhavanaṃ punarāvṛttidurlabham || 23 ||

Translation

এইদৰে যি সংযমী আৰু নিয়মনিষ্ঠ হৈ পুণ্যময় একাদশী-ব্ৰত পালন কৰে, সি বিষ্ণুধাম লাভ কৰে; তাতৰ পৰা পুনৰ্জন্মলৈ উভতি অহা অতি দুৰ্লভ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सापेक्ष-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• प्रयतः: disciplined, self-restrained
• प्रयतः: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √यत् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/कृतप्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; अर्थः ‘संयत/नियमित’ (disciplined)

• कुर्यात्: should do, would perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (qualifier of object)

• एकादशी-व्रतम्: the Ekadashi vow/fast
• एकादशी-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘एकादश्याः व्रतम्’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अन्वादेश-सर्वनाम (correlative pronoun)

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्णु-भवनम्: Vishnu’s abode
• विष्णु-भवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘विष्णोः भवनम्’

• पुनरावृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: hard to return from (i.e., from which return is rare)
• पुनरावृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: Karma-anuguṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनरावृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पुनरावृत्तेः दुर्लभम्’; कर्मविशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi

FAQs

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

It declares Ekādaśī as a highly meritorious vrata that, when observed with self-restraint, leads to Viṣṇu’s abode—symbolizing liberation-oriented devotion and the near-cessation of return to saṃsāra.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through vrata as an act of disciplined devotion: honoring Ekādaśī for Viṣṇu, aligning one’s conduct with purity (prayataḥ), and directing the fruit toward Viṣṇu-loka rather than worldly gains.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline (vrata-vidhi) and calendrical observance tied to tithi (Ekādaśī), a practical application often supported by Jyotiṣa-based timekeeping for correct vrata timing.