Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Dhvajāropaṇa and Dhvajāgopaṇa: Procedure, Stotra, and Phala (Merit) of Raising Viṣṇu’s Flag

Devanagari script

एकाशी ब्रह्मचारी च स्वपेन्नारायणं स्मरन् । धौताम्बरधरः शुद्धो विप्रो नारायणाग्रतः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

ekāśī brahmacārī ca svapennārāyaṇaṃ smaran | dhautāmbaradharaḥ śuddho vipro nārāyaṇāgrataḥ || 8 ||

Translation

Observant l’Ekādaśī et gardant le brahmacarya, se souvenant de Nārāyaṇa même dans le sommeil, le brāhmane purifié—vêtu d’habits propres et lavés—doit demeurer en présence de Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• एकाशी: (being) an ekādaśī-faster
• एकाशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective used substantively: ‘one who observes ekādaśī-fast’

• ब्रह्मचारी: celibate (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective: ‘celibate/student’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• स्वपेत्: should sleep
• स्वपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; ‘should sleep’

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Parasmaipada sense

• धौत-अम्बर-धरः: wearing washed clothes
• धौत-अम्बर-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धौत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय sense: ‘wearer of washed garments’

• शुद्धः: pure
• शुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• नारायण-अग्रतः: before/in front of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण-अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverbial): ‘in front of Nārāyaṇa’; तद्धित/अव्ययीभाव-like usage with अग्रतः

Speaker

Narada (teaching devotional observances centered on Narayana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents Ekādaśī, brahmacarya, constant smaraṇa (remembrance), and śauca (purity) as a unified discipline that makes the worshipper fit to stand before Nārāyaṇa.

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

Bhakti is framed as continuous remembrance—so steady that it extends even into sleep—supported by vows (Ekādaśī) and self-restraint (brahmacarya) as practical aids to devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline aligned with śauca and vrata-vidhi (clean attire, purity, regulated conduct), which relates to applied dharma and basic kalpa-style ritual propriety rather than technical grammar or astrology.