Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa
Dharmakīrti before Yama
ये विष्णुपूजनरताः प्रयताः कृतज्ञाश्चैकादशीव्रतपरा विजितेन्द्रियाश्च । नारायणाच्युतहरे शरणं भवेति शान्ता वदन्ति सततं तरसा त्यजध्वम् ॥ ७५ ॥
ye viṣṇupūjanaratāḥ prayatāḥ kṛtajñāścaikādaśīvrataparā vijitendriyāśca | nārāyaṇācyutahare śaraṇaṃ bhaveti śāntā vadanti satataṃ tarasā tyajadhvam || 75 ||
വിഷ്ണുപൂജയിൽ രതരായി, നിയന്ത്രിതരായി, കൃതജ്ഞരായി, ഏകാദശിവ്രതപരരായി, ഇന്ദ്രിയജയികളായവർ ശാന്തമായി എപ്പോഴും പറയുന്നു—“നാരായണൻ, അച്യുത ഹരിയിലാണ് ശരണം.” അതിനാൽ വേഗത്തിൽ മറ്റു ആസക്തികൾ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുവിൻ.
Sanatkumāra (addressing Nārada in the teaching dialogue)
Vrata: Ekadashi
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It elevates śaraṇāgati—taking exclusive refuge in Nārāyaṇa—as the mature conclusion of disciplined Viṣṇu-bhakti supported by gratitude, sense-control, and vrata.
Bhakti here is not only emotion but a regulated life: worship of Viṣṇu, observance of Ekādaśī, mastery over the senses, and the steady conviction that Hari alone is the true refuge.
Ritual discipline through vrata (Ekādaśī observance) is emphasized—practical dharma-application rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa; it points to calendrical fasting practice aligned with Vaiṣṇava ritual tradition.