Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ऊर्जस्य शुक्लैकादश्यां समुपोष्य प्रबोधिनीम् । केशवं बोधयेद्रात्रौ सुप्तं गीतादिमंगलैः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

ūrjasya śuklaikādaśyāṃ samupoṣya prabodhinīm | keśavaṃ bodhayedrātrau suptaṃ gītādimaṃgalaiḥ || 51 ||

Translation

Au onzième jour lumineux du mois d’Ūrja (Kārttika), après avoir observé comme il se doit le jeûne de Prabodhinī, qu’on « réveille » la nuit Keśava — dit « endormi » — par des actes de bon augure tels que des chants de bhakti et d’autres célébrations sacrées.

Word by Word

• ऊर्जस्य: of Ūrjas (Kārtika)
• ऊर्जस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्जस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; मास/कालसम्बन्ध (of Ūrjas = Kārtika)

• शुक्ल-एकादश्याम्: on the bright Ekādaśī
• शुक्ल-एकादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: शुक्ला एकादशी (bright-fortnight Ekādaśī)

• सम्-उपोष्य: having duly fasted
• सम्-उपोष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-वास् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); सम्यक् उपवासं कृत्वा (having duly fasted)

• प्रबोधिनीम्: Prabodhinī (the awakening day)
• प्रबोधिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोधिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तिथिविशेष/व्रतनाम (name of the day/vow)

• केशवम्: Keśava
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• बोधयेत्: should awaken
• बोधयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) [णिच् causative: बोधयति]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (cause to awaken)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• सुप्तम्: asleep
• सुप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्वप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; केशवम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (asleep)

• गीत-आदि-मङ्गलैः: with auspicious songs and the like
• गीत-आदि-मङ्गलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: गीतादीनि मङ्गलानि (auspicious songs etc.); साधन (instrument/means)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue to the Sanatkumara brothers, as framed in this section of Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Prabodhinī (Devotthānī) Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Keshava
• Vishnu
• Prabodhini Ekadashi
• Urja (Karttika)

FAQs

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

It presents Prabodhini Ekadashi in Kārttika as a key vrata: after fasting, the devotee performs Hari-prabodhana—ritually ‘awakening’ Keśava with auspicious devotional acts—marking renewed engagement in Viṣṇu-bhakti and dharmic worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed through upavāsa (disciplined fasting), night-time worship, and gīta (devotional singing/kīrtana). The ‘awakening’ is a loving devotional gesture: the devotee approaches Keśava with maṅgala (auspicious) praise rather than mere formalism.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual timing and calendrical observance—Ekādaśī of the bright fortnight in Ūrja/Kārttika—reflecting practical dharma based on tithi calculation (a Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga application) and proper vrata procedure (upavāsa and night maṅgala-kīrtana).