Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

एकादशीव्रतं नाम सर्वाभीष्टप्रदं नृणाम् । कर्त्तव्यं सर्वथा विप्रविष्णुप्रीतिकरं यतः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśīvrataṃ nāma sarvābhīṣṭapradaṃ nṛṇām | karttavyaṃ sarvathā vipraviṣṇuprītikaraṃ yataḥ || 3 ||

Translation

ଏକାଦଶୀ ବ୍ରତ ମନୁଷ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଇଚ୍ଛିତ ଫଳ ଦେଇଥାଏ। ତେଣୁ, ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ, ସର୍ବପ୍ରକାରେ ଏହା ପାଳନୀୟ; କାରଣ ଏହା ଶ୍ରୀବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରୀତିକର।

Word by Word

• ekādaśī-vratam: the Ekādaśī vow/fast
• ekādaśī-vratam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ekādaśyāḥ vrataṃ)

• nāma: called/indeed
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker of designation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle used for naming/indeed (नाम-शब्दः)

• sarva-abhīṣṭa-pradam: granting all desired wishes
• sarva-abhīṣṭa-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhīṣṭa (कृदन्त; √iṣ (इष्) + abhi-, past passive participle used as noun/adjective) + prada (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √dā (दा) + pra, agentive/adj. stem)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (sarvāṇi abhīṣṭāni pradadāti iti) qualifying ekādaśī-vratam

• nṛṇām: of men/for people
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• karttavyam: should be performed
• karttavyam: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) + tavya (तव्यत्-कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), ‘to be done/should be done’, agreeing with ekādaśī-vratam

• sarvathā: in every way/always
• sarvathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vipra-viṣṇu-prīti-karam: causing the pleasure of Brahmins and Viṣṇu
• vipra-viṣṇu-prīti-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक; from √kṛ (कृ) ‘maker/doer’)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः: (viprāṇāṃ viṣṇoḥ prītiṃ karoti iti) qualifying ekādaśī-vratam

• yataḥ: because/for
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), causal relative adverb/conjunction (हेतौ यतः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Ekadashi-vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares Ekadashi as a universally beneficial vrata that fulfills human aims while centering the practice on pleasing Lord Vishnu—linking worldly well-being with devotional merit.

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

Bhakti is framed as intentional action that delights Vishnu; observing Ekadashi is presented not merely as austerity but as a direct means of cultivating Vishnu-prīti (divine satisfaction).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style vrata procedure) is implied: Ekadashi is to be performed “sarvathā,” i.e., according to proper observance—fasting/restraint and rule-based conduct as a dharmic practice.