Shloka 33

Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka

Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle

Devanagari script

विश्रांतं लेखकेर्लेख्यं लिखितं मार्जितं जनैः । एकादश्युपवासस्य माहात्म्येन द्विजोत्तम ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

viśrāṃtaṃ lekhakerlekhyaṃ likhitaṃ mārjitaṃ janaiḥ | ekādaśyupavāsasya māhātmyena dvijottama || 33 ||

Translation

O Bester der Zweimalgeborenen, durch die Größe des Fastens am Ekādaśī wurde die Schrift des Schreibers—nachdem sie zur Ruhe gekommen war—neu geschrieben und von den Menschen sogar ausgelöscht und gereinigt.

Word by Word

• विश्रान्तम्: rested; ceased
• विश्रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रान्त (कृदन्त; √श्रम् उपसर्ग-वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘rested/ceased’

• लेखकेः: of the scribe
• लेखकेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेखक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; Genitive ‘of the scribe’

• लेख्यम्: the writing; what is to be written
• लेख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेख्य (प्रातिपदिक; √लिख्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘that which is to be written’

• लिखितम्: written
• लिखितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिखित (कृदन्त; √लिख्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘written’

• मार्जितम्: cleansed; erased
• मार्जितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्जित (कृदन्त; √मृज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘wiped/cleansed’

• जनैः: by people
• जनैः: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; Instrumental ‘by people’

• एकादशी-उपवासस्य: of the Ekādaśī fast
• एकादशी-उपवासस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘of the Ekādaśī fast’

• माहात्म्येन: by the greatness (power)
• माहात्म्येन: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; Instrumental ‘by/through the greatness’

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘best of the twice-born’ (vocative address)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the dialogue; verse addresses a dvija as listener within the Ekadashi Mahatmya episode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-upavāsa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It highlights Ekādaśī-upavāsa as so spiritually potent that even recorded outcomes (symbolized by a scribe’s settled writing) can be altered—implying purification and reversal of negative karmic accounting through sincere vrata.

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

Ekādaśī fasting is presented as a devotional discipline aligned to Viṣṇu-bhakti: by honoring the sacred day with restraint and faith, a devotee gains transformative grace that reshapes one’s spiritual destiny.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style vrata practice) is implied: the verse points to the regulated observance of Ekādaśī upavāsa as a formal dhārmic method for purification, even though no specific technical Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is explicitly named.