Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

भुक्त्वेह भोगानखिलान्यात्यंते वैष्णवं क्षयम् । नभस्यशुक्लैकादश्यां पद्माख्यां समुपोष्य वै ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

bhuktveha bhogānakhilānyātyaṃte vaiṣṇavaṃ kṣayam | nabhasyaśuklaikādaśyāṃ padmākhyāṃ samupoṣya vai || 36 ||

Translation

Nachdem man hier alle weltlichen Genüsse erfahren hat, gelangt man schließlich zur unvergänglichen vaiṣṇavischen Wohnstatt, der Sphäre Viṣṇus, indem man ordnungsgemäß am Ekādaśī der hellen Monatshälfte des Monats Nabhas (Bhādrapada), genannt Padmā, fastet.

Word by Word

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having enjoyed/eaten’

• इह: here
• इह: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here/in this world)

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘भुक्त्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अखिलान्: all, entire
• अखिलान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifies ‘भोगान्’)

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/Indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter usage), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘at the end’

• वैष्णवम्: Vishnu’s, Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies ‘क्षयम्’)

• क्षयम्: abode/state (kṣaya)
• क्षयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘याति’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नभस्यशुक्लैकादश्याम्: on the Śukla-ekādaśī of Nabhas (Bhādrapada)
• नभस्यशुक्लैकादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस्य + शुक्ल + एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समास: नभस्यस्य (genitive) + शुक्ला (bright fortnight) + एकादशी

• पद्माख्याम्: called ‘Padmā’
• पद्माख्याम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies implied ‘एकादशीम्’); समास: पद्म-आख्या ‘named Padmā’

• समुपोष्य: having fasted
• समुपोष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + वस्/उपवस् (धातु: उपवासे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having fasted’

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the vrata-phala narration, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Padmā Ekādaśī (Nabhasya-śukla-ekādaśī)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares the phala (spiritual result) of observing Padmā Ekādaśī: after fulfilling worldly life, the devotee is led to the imperishable, Viṣṇu-centered destination (vaiṣṇava kṣaya), emphasizing liberation through devotional discipline.

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

Bhakti is expressed as practical devotion—fasting and vow-observance on Ekādaśī dedicated to Viṣṇu—showing that sincere Vaishnava vrata aligns one’s life toward Viṣṇu’s abode rather than mere temporary enjoyments.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical/ritual precision—month (Nabhas/Bhādrapada), lunar fortnight (śukla), and tithi (Ekādaśī)—reflecting Jyotiṣa-based timing and Kalpa-style vrata procedure for correct observance.