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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

एकादशीव्रतपराङ्मुखमुग्रशीलं लोकापवादनिरतं परनिंदकं च । ग्रामस्य नाशकरमुत्तमवैरयुक्तं दूताः समानयत विप्रधनेषु लुब्धम् ॥ ८१ ॥

ekādaśīvrataparāṅmukhamugraśīlaṃ lokāpavādanirataṃ paraniṃdakaṃ ca | grāmasya nāśakaramuttamavairayuktaṃ dūtāḥ samānayata vipradhaneṣu lubdham || 81 ||

Die Boten brachten jenen Mann herbei, der sich vom Ekādaśī-Gelübde abgewandt hatte: von rauer Natur, versunken in Verleumdung der Welt und im Tadeln anderer; der sein Dorf zugrunde richtete, an heftige Feindschaft gebunden war und gierig nach dem Reichtum der Brāhmaṇas verlangte.

ekādaśī-vrata-parāṅmukhamturned away from the Ekādaśī vow
ekādaśī-vrata-parāṅmukham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + parāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण to implied person
ugra-śīlamof fierce nature
ugra-śīlam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootugra (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण
loka-apavāda-niratamengaged in slandering people
loka-apavāda-niratam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक) + apavāda (प्रातिपदिक) + nirata (कृदन्त, क्त)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण
para-nindakama critic of others
para-nindakam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक) + nindaka (प्रातिपदिक from √nind)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agent noun used as object
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction
grāmasyaof the village
grāmasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootgrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive
nāśa-karamcausing destruction
nāśa-karam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootnāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण
uttama-vaira-yuktamendowed with intense enmity
uttama-vaira-yuktam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootuttama (प्रातिपदिक) + vaira (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त, क्त)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण
dūtāḥO messengers
dūtāḥ:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootdūta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा
samānayatabring (here)
samānayata:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-√nī (धातु)
FormLoṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada
vipra-dhaneṣuin Brahmins’ wealth (towards it)
vipra-dhaneṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; locative ‘in/with respect to Brahmins’ wealth’
lubdhamgreedy
lubdham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootlubdha (कृदन्त, क्त; from √lubh)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; participial adjective

Narrator (in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata: Ekadashi

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

E
Ekadashi
Y
Yama-dutas (messengers of Yama)
B
Brahmanas (Vipras)

FAQs

It lists key adharma traits—rejecting Ekadashi-vrata, slander, hostility, social harm, and greed for Brahmin wealth—showing how such conduct attracts punitive consequences and blocks spiritual progress.

By highlighting a life opposed to Ekadashi discipline and moral restraint, the verse implies that Bhakti to Vishnu is supported by vrata-observance, purity of speech, and non-harm, not by criticism and covetousness.

Ritual discipline (vrata-niyama) is emphasized: Ekadashi observance as a practical dharmic rule, along with ethical speech-control—both foundational to correct ritual life even when explicit Vedanga topics are not named.