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

ایکادشی کا ورت انسانوں کو تمام مطلوبہ پھل عطا کرتا ہے۔ لہٰذا اے برہمن، اسے ہر طرح سے ضرور بجا لانا چاہیے، کیونکہ یہ شری وشنو کو خوش کرتا ہے۔

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.