Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

एकादशीव्रतपराङ्मुखमुग्रशीलं लोकापवादनिरतं परनिंदकं च । ग्रामस्य नाशकरमुत्तमवैरयुक्तं दूताः समानयत विप्रधनेषु लुब्धम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśīvrataparāṅmukhamugraśīlaṃ lokāpavādanirataṃ paraniṃdakaṃ ca | grāmasya nāśakaramuttamavairayuktaṃ dūtāḥ samānayata vipradhaneṣu lubdham || 81 ||

Translation

దూతలు ఆ మనిషిని తీసుకొచ్చారు—ఏకాదశీ వ్రతానికి విముఖుడైన, ఉగ్ర స్వభావం కలవాడు, లోకనిందలో మునిగిన పరనిందకుడు; తన గ్రామాన్ని నాశనం చేసినవాడు, ఘోర వైరం కలవాడు, బ్రాహ్మణుల ధనంపై లోభి।

Word by Word

• ekādaśī-vrata-parāṅmukham: turned away from the Ekādaśī vow
• ekādaśī-vrata-parāṅmukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + parāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण to implied person

• ugra-śīlam: of fierce nature
• ugra-śīlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण

• loka-apavāda-niratam: engaged in slandering people
• loka-apavāda-niratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + apavāda (प्रातिपदिक) + nirata (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण

• para-nindakam: a critic of others
• para-nindakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + nindaka (प्रातिपदिक from √nind)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agent noun used as object

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• grāmasya: of the village
• grāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive

• nāśa-karam: causing destruction
• nāśa-karam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण

• uttama-vaira-yuktam: endowed with intense enmity
• uttama-vaira-yuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + vaira (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण

• dūtāḥ: O messengers
• dūtāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा

• samānayata: bring (here)
• samānayata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√nī (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• vipra-dhaneṣu: in Brahmins’ wealth (towards it)
• vipra-dhaneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; locative ‘in/with respect to Brahmins’ wealth’

• lubdham: greedy
• lubdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lubdha (कृदन्त, क्त; from √lubh)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; participial adjective

Speaker

Narrator (in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekadashi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Yama-dutas (messengers of Yama)
• Brahmanas (Vipras)

FAQs

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

It lists key adharma traits—rejecting Ekadashi-vrata, slander, hostility, social harm, and greed for Brahmin wealth—showing how such conduct attracts punitive consequences and blocks spiritual progress.

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

By highlighting a life opposed to Ekadashi discipline and moral restraint, the verse implies that Bhakti to Vishnu is supported by vrata-observance, purity of speech, and non-harm, not by criticism and covetousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (vrata-niyama) is emphasized: Ekadashi observance as a practical dharmic rule, along with ethical speech-control—both foundational to correct ritual life even when explicit Vedanga topics are not named.