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

噢凯舍瓦，我为无明之暗所蔽，如盲者一般。愿凭此誓戒，慈悲垂顾，和颜悦色，赐我真知之慧眼。

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.