Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

कोपं ह्यनृतवाक्यं च एकादश्यां विवर्ज्जयेत् । कांस्यं मांसं सुरां क्षौद्रं तैलं विण्म्लेच्छभाषणम् ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

kopaṃ hyanṛtavākyaṃ ca ekādaśyāṃ vivarjjayet | kāṃsyaṃ māṃsaṃ surāṃ kṣaudraṃ tailaṃ viṇmlecchabhāṣaṇam || 89 ||

Translation

ഏകാദശിയിൽ കോപവും അസത്യവാക്കും വർജിക്കണം; കൂടാതെ കാംസ്യം, മാംസം, സുരാ, മധു, തൈലം, മലവും മ്ലേച്ഛഭാഷണം (അശുദ്ധ വാക്ക്) എന്നിവയും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• kopam: anger
• kopam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात) particle (emphasis)

• anṛta-vākyam: false speech/lying words
• anṛta-vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) = anṛtaṃ vākyaṃ; Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction

• ekādaśyām: on the eleventh (lunar day)
• ekādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vivarjayet: should completely avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + vṛj (वृज् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kāṃsyam: bell-metal/bronze (vessel)
• kāṃsyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṃsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• māṃsam: meat
• māṃsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• surām: liquor
• surām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kṣaudram: honey
• kṣaudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• viṇ-mleccha-bhāṣaṇam: impure/filthy barbarous speech
• viṇ-mleccha-bhāṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṇ + mleccha + bhāṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (multi-member) = viṇ-mleccha-bhāṣaṇa; Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi

FAQs

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

It frames Ekādaśī as a day of heightened purity where both conduct (anger, untruth) and consumables/contacts (meat, liquor, oil, etc.) are restrained to support sattva and devotional steadiness.

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

By prescribing self-control of speech and emotion alongside dietary restraint, the verse protects the mind from agitation, making it fit for Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (remembrance) and vrata-based bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual discipline (kalpa-style niyamas) and speech-purity aligned with śikṣā/vyākaraṇa ideals—emphasizing controlled, refined language and truthful expression during observances.