Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

एतच्छ्रत्वा महाभागो गालवो विस्मयोन्वितः । उवाच प्रीतिमापन्नो भद्रशीलं महामतिम् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

etacchratvā mahābhāgo gālavo vismayonvitaḥ | uvāca prītimāpanno bhadraśīlaṃ mahāmatim || 52 ||

Translation

Als er dies hörte, sprach der glückbegünstigte Gālava, von Staunen erfüllt, freudig zu dem edlen und großgesinnten Bhadrashīla.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययवत्; ‘having heard’

• महाभागः: the very fortunate one
• महाभागः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक) < महा + भाग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः ‘महान् भागः यस्य’

• गालवः: Gālava
• गालवः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गालव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विस्मयोन्वितः: filled with astonishment
• विस्मयोन्वितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मयोन्वित (प्रातिपदिक) < विस्मय + अन्वित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विस्मयेन अन्वितः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (आख्यात/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• प्रीतिम्: affection/joy
• प्रीतिम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having attained (being filled with)
• आपन्नः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपद् (धातु) + आपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गालवः)

• भद्रशीलम्: Bhadraśīla
• भद्रशीलम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रशील (प्रातिपदिक) < भद्र + शील
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (नाम)

• महामतिम्: the great-minded
• महामतिम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक) < महा + मति
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः ‘महती मतिः यस्य’ (as epithet)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narrative voice describing Galava speaking to Bhadrashila)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gālava
• Bhadrashīla

FAQs

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

It marks the inner transformation of the listener—wonder and joy—showing that authentic dharmic instruction is meant to awaken reverence and readiness for deeper teaching.

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

Though it does not describe a specific bhakti practice, it reflects a key bhakti mood: hearing (śravaṇa) that produces delight and humility, preparing the seeker to approach noble guidance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions as a narrative connector indicating attentive hearing and respectful inquiry before technical instruction.