Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

जातिस्मरः सुकृतात्मा हृष्टप्रहसिताननः । स्वानभ्रुतं यथाव्रतं सर्वं पित्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

jātismaraḥ sukṛtātmā hṛṣṭaprahasitānanaḥ | svānabhrutaṃ yathāvrataṃ sarvaṃ pitre nyavedayat || 50 ||

Translation

Seiner früheren Geburten eingedenk, im Innern tugendhaft, mit einem von Freude und sanftem Lächeln erhellten Antlitz, berichtete er seinem Vater alles—genau wie es geschehen war und gemäß dem von ihm übernommenen Gelübde (vrata).

Word by Word

• जातिस्मरः: one who remembers (past) births
• जातिस्मरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातिस्मर (प्रातिपदिक) < जाति + स्मर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (जातिं स्मरति इति)

• सुकृतात्मा: of virtuous nature
• सुकृतात्मा: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृतात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) < सुकृत + आत्मन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सुकृतः आत्मा यस्य)

• हृष्टप्रहसिताननः: whose face was delighted and smiling
• हृष्टप्रहसिताननः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्टप्रहसितानन (प्रातिपदिक) < हृष्ट + प्रहसित + आनन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः ‘हृष्टं प्रहसितं आननं यस्य’

• स्वानभ्रुतम्: his own (account) without concealment
• स्वानभ्रुतम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वानभ्रुत (प्रातिपदिक) < स्व + अनभ्रुत
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; पाठभेदसम्भवः—अर्थः ‘स्वम् अनभ्रुतम्’ (one’s own, not withheld/unaltered)

• यथाव्रतम्: according to his observance
• यथाव्रतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथाव्रत (प्रातिपदिक) < यथा (अव्यय) + व्रत
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘according to the vow/observance’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पित्रे: to (his) father
• पित्रे: सम्प्रदान (सम्प्रदानम्/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• न्यवेदयत्: informed/reported
• न्यवेदयत्: क्रिया (आख्यात/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense in usage ‘reported/informed’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana dialogue in context; verse describes a character reporting to his father)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic integrity: a virtuous person, grounded in merit and clarity of memory, honestly reports his actions and keeps his vow exactly as prescribed—showing that spiritual progress depends on disciplined, truthful conduct.

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

While not naming a deity here, the verse supports bhakti through the ethic of vrata-niyama (vowed discipline): devotion matures when one follows observances faithfully and with a joyful, purified mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented vrata practice): performing an observance “yathā-vrata” (according to rule) and accurately accounting for one’s performance—an essential habit in Vedic ritual culture.