Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

पुरार्जितानि पुण्यानि मया तु सुबहून्यपि । पाषण्डैर्बाधितोऽहं तु वेदमार्गं समत्यजम् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

purārjitāni puṇyāni mayā tu subahūnyapi | pāṣaṇḍairbādhito'haṃ tu vedamārgaṃ samatyajam || 57 ||

Translation

Хотя прежде я накопил множество заслуг, будучи тревожим и введённым в заблуждение пашандами, я полностью оставил путь Вед.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• अर्जितानि: acquired / earned
• अर्जितानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘पुण्यानि’ विशेषण

• पुण्यानि: merits / virtuous deeds
• पुण्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक अव्यय (indeed/but)

• सु-बहूनि: very many
• सु-बहूनि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सु’ (very) + ‘बहूनि’ (many)

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

• पाषण्डैः: by heretics
• पाषण्डैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• बाधितः: afflicted / obstructed
• बाधितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ विशेषण

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• वेदमार्गम्: the path of the Vedas
• वेदमार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वेदस्य मार्गः’

• समत्यजम्: I completely abandoned
• समत्यजम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्-

Speaker

Narada (in confession to the Sanatkumara brothers, esp. Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights how even great accumulated puṇya can be undermined when one abandons vedamārga under misleading influence, stressing vigilance in dharma and the need to return to authentic Vedic conduct.

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

By admitting deviation from the Vedic path, the verse sets up the corrective framework common in the Narada Purana: re-establishing oneself in śāstra-guided devotion and right practice rather than following sectarian distortions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it emphasizes reliance on śāstra-based discernment—supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Vyākaraṇa (clear meaning of scripture) and Kalpa (right ritual procedure)—so one is not swayed by pāṣaṇḍa teachings.