Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं व्रजेन्नरः । ज्येष्ठस्य शुक्लैकादश्यां निर्जलां समुपोष्य तु ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇulokaṃ vrajennaraḥ | jyeṣṭhasya śuklaikādaśyāṃ nirjalāṃ samupoṣya tu || 14 ||

Translation

Wer am Ekādaśī der hellen Monatshälfte (Śukla-pakṣa) im Monat Jyeṣṭha das Nirjalā-Fasten (ohne Wasser) vollkommen einhält, wird von allen Sünden frei und gelangt in Viṣṇus Welt, Viṣṇuloka.

Word by Word

• sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ: freed from all sins
• sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-nis-mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, from √मुच्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'sarvebhyaḥ pāpebhyaḥ vinirmuktaḥ' (freed from all sins)

• viṣṇu-lokam: Viṣṇu’s world
• viṣṇu-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'viṣṇoḥ lokaḥ'

• vrajet: would go
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Present optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• jyeṣṭhasya: of (the month) Jyeṣṭha
• jyeṣṭhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śukla-ekādaśyām: on the bright-fortnight Ekādaśī
• śukla-ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'śuklāyāḥ ekādaśī' (bright-fortnight Ekādaśī)

• nirjalām: waterless (without water)
• nirjalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies implied 'upavāsam/ekādaśīm'

• samupoṣya: having fasted
• samupoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-vas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √उपवस् with prefixes सम्+उप

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात-अव्यय), adversative/emphatic

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nirjalā Ekādaśī (Jyeṣṭha śukla-ekādaśī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vishnuloka
• Nirjala Ekadashi
• Jyeshtha (month)

FAQs

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

It presents Nirjalā Ekādaśī in Jyeṣṭha śukla pakṣa as a powerful vrata whose fruit is purification from sin and attainment of Viṣṇu’s realm (Viṣṇuloka).

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

By linking a devotional vow (Ekādaśī fasting) directly to Viṣṇu’s abode, it frames disciplined observance as an act of Viṣṇu-bhakti that transforms the devotee’s destiny.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical/ritual timing based on tithi and pakṣa—Ekādaśī in the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha—reflecting practical jyotiṣa-style reckoning for correct vrata performance.