Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

समेतास्तत्र ये केचिद्रेवातीरनिवासिनः । एकादशीव्रतपरा मया दृष्ट्वा निशामुखे ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

sametāstatra ye kecidrevātīranivāsinaḥ | ekādaśīvrataparā mayā dṛṣṭvā niśāmukhe || 63 ||

Translation

അവിടെ സന്ധ്യ അടുത്തപ്പോൾ, രേവാതീരവാസികളായ ചിലരെ ഞാൻ ഒരുമിച്ചുകൂടിയതായി കണ്ടു; അവർ ഏകാദശി വ്രതത്തിൽ പരായണരായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• समेताः: assembled, gathered
• समेताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु) → समेत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• केचित्: some (persons)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• रेवातीरनिवासिनः: residents of the Reva riverbank
• रेवातीरनिवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेवा (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक) + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘रेवाया: तीरे निवसन्ति’ (those dwelling on the bank of Reva)

• एकादशीव्रतपराः: devoted to the Ekadashi fast/vow
• एकादशीव्रतपराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘एकादश्यां व्रते पराः’ (devoted to the Ekadashi vow)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen’

• निशामुखे: at nightfall
• निशामुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘निशायाः मुखे’ (at the beginning of night)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Reva (Narmada)
• Ekadashi Vrata

FAQs

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

It highlights the sanctity of Ekādaśī-vrata as a lived, communal dharma—devotees gather at a sacred riverbank (Revā/Narmadā) and align their conduct with vrata-discipline as night approaches, indicating readiness for worship, fasting, and restraint.

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

By portraying devotees as ekādaśī-vrata-parāḥ—steadfast in a Vishnu-centered vow—this verse frames bhakti as consistent practice: gathering with like-minded sādhakas, observing sacred time (Ekādaśī), and situating devotion in tīrtha-associated purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly relies on proper time-keeping for vrata observance—knowledge aligned with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology) to identify Ekādaśī and its proper timing around evening (niśāmukha).