Shloka 17

Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka

Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणो नैव हंतव्य इत्येषा वैदिकी स्मृतिः । एकादश्यां न भोक्तव्यं पक्षयोरुभयोरपि ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇo naiva haṃtavya ityeṣā vaidikī smṛtiḥ | ekādaśyāṃ na bhoktavyaṃ pakṣayorubhayorapi || 17 ||

Translation

“ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କୁ କେବେ ହତ୍ୟା କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ”—ଏହା ବୈଦିକ ସ୍ମୃତିବଚନ; ସେହିପରି ଏକାଦଶୀରେ ଉଭୟ ପକ୍ଷରେ (ଶୁକ୍ଳ ଓ କୃଷ୍ଣ) ଭୋଜନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ॥୧୭॥

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karma (कर्म) (हन्तव्य इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• हन्तव्यः: should be killed
• हन्तव्यः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle: 'to be killed'), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; निषेधेन ‘न हन्तव्यः’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• वैदिकी: Vedic
• वैदिकी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्मृतिः: tradition/remembered rule
• स्मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात

• भोक्तव्यम्: should be eaten
• भोक्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be eaten'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; निषेधेन ‘न भोक्तव्यम्’ = ‘should not be eaten’

• पक्षयोः: of the two fortnights
• पक्षयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; ‘of the two fortnights’

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (both)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links two core dharma principles: protecting a brāhmaṇa (as a Vedic ethical injunction) and observing Ekādaśī fasting, emphasizing restraint and sanctity as foundations for religious merit.

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

Ekādaśī discipline is presented as a concrete vow (vrata) that supports purity and steadiness of mind—key supports for sustained Vishnu-bhakti, even though Vishnu is not explicitly named in this line.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical/ritual practice tied to the lunar tithi system—Ekādaśī occurring in both pakṣas—an applied aspect of jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning used for vrata observance.