Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

विप्रान्संभोज्य मिष्टान्नैर्विसृजेत्प्राप्तदक्षिणान् । एवं कृतव्रतो विप्रभक्त्याऽजायाः समाहितः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

viprānsaṃbhojya miṣṭānnairvisṛjetprāptadakṣiṇān | evaṃ kṛtavrato viprabhaktyā'jāyāḥ samāhitaḥ || 35 ||

Translation

ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു മധുരവും ശ്രേഷ്ഠവുമായ അന്നം നൽകി ഭോജനം കഴിപ്പിച്ച്, ദക്ഷിണ ലഭിച്ച ശേഷം അവരെ ആദരത്തോടെ യാത്രയാക്കണം. ഇങ്ങനെ വ്രതം പൂർത്തിയാക്കി, വിപ്രഭക്തിയാൽ സമാഹിതനായി അജാ (അജന്മ ദിവ്യത)യിൽ മനസ്സു സ്ഥാപിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘संभोज्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• संभोज्य: having fed
• संभोज्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having fed/entertained’

• मिष्टान्नैः: with sweet foods
• मिष्टान्नैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: मिष्ट-अन्न ‘sweet food’

• विसृजेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसृजेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• प्राप्तदक्षिणान्: who have received the fee
• प्राप्तदक्षिणान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifies ‘विप्रान्’); समास: प्राप्ता दक्षिणा येषाम् (received dakṣiṇā)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• कृतव्रतः: one who has performed the vow
• कृतव्रतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समास: कृतं व्रतं येन (one who has performed the vow)

• विप्रभक्त्या: by devotion to Brahmins
• विप्रभक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: विप्रेषु भक्तिः (devotion to Brahmins)

• अजायाः: of Ajā (name of the Ekādaśī)
• अजायाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) अर्थे कर्तरि—‘collected/intent, composed’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a didactic context; dialogue tradition with the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ajā Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī observance (continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahmanas
• Ajā (the Unborn Divine)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vow (vrata) is spiritually sealed by hospitality and generosity—feeding brāhmaṇas, giving dakṣiṇā, and ending with inner composure and remembrance of the Unborn Divine.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent service—honoring brāhmaṇas as worthy recipients—and by directing the mind in a gathered, steady way toward Ajā (the Unborn), i.e., the transcendent Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the proper conclusion of a vrata through brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dakṣiṇā, followed by mental recollection (samāhita) as the disciplined end of the rite.