Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स विमानं समारुह्य यात्यंते वैष्णवं पदम् । मार्गस्य शुक्लैकादश्यां मोक्षाख्यां समुपोष्य वै ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

sa vimānaṃ samāruhya yātyaṃte vaiṣṇavaṃ padam | mārgasya śuklaikādaśyāṃ mokṣākhyāṃ samupoṣya vai || 59 ||

Translation

Monté sur un vimāna céleste, il parvient finalement au séjour vaiṣṇava, après avoir observé comme il se doit le jeûne de l’Ekādaśī de la quinzaine claire du mois de Mārgaśīrṣa, appelée « Mokṣā ».

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (sg)

• vimānam: a celestial vehicle
• vimānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg)

• samāruhya: having ascended
• samāruhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having mounted/ascended’; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• yāti: goes
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana (sg); parasmaipada

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसक (n.), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (sg); kāla-adhikaraṇa ‘at the end’

• vaiṣṇavam: Vaishnava (of Vishnu)
• vaiṣṇavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg); qualifies padam

• padam: abode/state
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg)

• mārgasya: of Mārgaśīrṣa (month)
• mārgasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (sg); month-name; sambandha ‘of (the month)’

• śukla-ekādaśyām: on the bright (fortnight) Ekādaśī
• śukla-ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (sg); kāla-adhikaraṇa

• mokṣa-ākhyām: called ‘Mokṣā’
• mokṣa-ākhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (sg); qualifies (ekādaśīm) understood; ‘named’

• samupoṣya: having fasted
• samupoṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√vas (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having fasted/observed a fast’; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (nipāta) for emphasis/assurance

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mokṣā (Mokṣadā) Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares the moksha-fruit of observing the “Mokṣā” Ekādaśī: the devotee attains the Vaiṣṇava abode (Vaikuṇṭha), symbolized by ascent in a vimāna.

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

Bhakti is expressed as disciplined Vaiṣṇava observance—fasting on Ekādaśī with faith in Viṣṇu—where the ritual act becomes a direct means to reach the Lord’s supreme state.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style ritual timing is emphasized: the vrata is fixed to the lunar calendar—Mārgaśīrṣa, Śukla Pakṣa, Ekādaśī—showing the importance of correct tithi-based observance.