Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य व्रतेनानेन केशव । प्रसीद सुमुखो भूत्वा ज्ञानदृष्टिप्रदो भव ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

ajñānatimirāndhasya vratenānena keśava | prasīda sumukho bhūtvā jñānadṛṣṭiprado bhava || 20 ||

Translation

Ôi Keśava, con bị mù lòa bởi bóng tối vô minh. Nhờ giới nguyện này, xin Ngài đoái thương, hiền hòa ban ân, và trao cho con con mắt thấy biết của chân trí.

Word by Word

• अज्ञान-तिमिर-अन्धस्य: of one blinded by the darkness of ignorance
• अज्ञान-तिमिर-अन्धस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + तिमिर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धभाव): 'अज्ञानरूपेण तिमिरेण अन्धः' → 'blind due to the darkness of ignorance'

• व्रतेन: by the vow
• व्रतेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; 'by this' (agreeing with व्रतेन)

• केशव: O Keśava
• केशव: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• प्रसीद: be pleased
• प्रसीद: आज्ञा/प्रार्थना (Request)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; धातु: √सद् (to be pleased) with उपसर्ग प्र-

• सुमुखः: pleasant-faced
• सुमुखः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सुन्दरं मुखं यस्य' (pleasant-faced)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; धातु: √भू; अर्थ: 'having become'

• ज्ञान-दृष्टि-प्रदः: giver of the vision of knowledge
• ज्ञान-दृष्टि-प्रदः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √दा with प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'ज्ञानस्य दृष्टिं प्रददाति' (giver of the vision of knowledge)

• भव: be
• भव: आज्ञा/प्रार्थना (Request)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; धातु: √भू; अर्थ: 'become/be'

Speaker

Devotee/narrator within the vrata context (addressing Vishnu as Keśava)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Keshava

FAQs

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

It frames ignorance (ajñāna) as blinding darkness and presents Vishnu (Keśava) as the compassionate giver of jñāna-dṛṣṭi—spiritual insight—attained through sincere vrata and grace.

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

Bhakti appears as humble surrender: the devotee admits limitation, performs a vow as an offering, and prays for the Lord’s pleased presence (prasāda), through which true knowledge arises.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vrata-dharma (ritual observance and disciplined vow) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; its practical takeaway is that correct, faithful observance is paired with inner transformation—clarity of jñāna.