Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

एवं यः प्रयतः कुर्यात्पुण्यमेकादशीव्रतम् । स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ yaḥ prayataḥ kuryātpuṇyamekādaśīvratam | sa yāti viṣṇubhavanaṃ punarāvṛttidurlabham || 23 ||

Translation

Demikianlah, siapa pun yang dengan disiplin dan pengendalian diri menjalankan vrata Ekādaśī yang penuh pahala, ia mencapai kediaman Viṣṇu, tempat yang amat sukar untuk kembali ke kelahiran ulang.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सापेक्ष-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• प्रयतः: disciplined, self-restrained
• प्रयतः: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √यत् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/कृतप्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; अर्थः ‘संयत/नियमित’ (disciplined)

• कुर्यात्: should do, would perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (qualifier of object)

• एकादशी-व्रतम्: the Ekadashi vow/fast
• एकादशी-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘एकादश्याः व्रतम्’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अन्वादेश-सर्वनाम (correlative pronoun)

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्णु-भवनम्: Vishnu’s abode
• विष्णु-भवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘विष्णोः भवनम्’

• पुनरावृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: hard to return from (i.e., from which return is rare)
• पुनरावृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: Karma-anuguṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनरावृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पुनरावृत्तेः दुर्लभम्’; कर्मविशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi

FAQs

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

It declares Ekādaśī as a highly meritorious vrata that, when observed with self-restraint, leads to Viṣṇu’s abode—symbolizing liberation-oriented devotion and the near-cessation of return to saṃsāra.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through vrata as an act of disciplined devotion: honoring Ekādaśī for Viṣṇu, aligning one’s conduct with purity (prayataḥ), and directing the fruit toward Viṣṇu-loka rather than worldly gains.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline (vrata-vidhi) and calendrical observance tied to tithi (Ekādaśī), a practical application often supported by Jyotiṣa-based timekeeping for correct vrata timing.