Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

गालवो नाम विप्रेन्द्रो निवासमकरोच्चिरम् । तस्याभवद्भद्रशील इति ख्यातः सुतो वशी ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

gālavo nāma viprendro nivāsamakarocciram | tasyābhavadbhadraśīla iti khyātaḥ suto vaśī || 36 ||

Translation

名为伽罗婆（Gālava）的最上婆罗门在此久居立舍。其后诞生一位能自制的儿子，名闻为婆陀罗尸罗（Bhadraśīla）。

Word by Word

• गालवः: Gālava
• गालवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गालव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; ‘by name’)

• विप्र-इन्द्रः: chief of Brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• निवासम्: dwelling/residence
• निवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अकरोत्: made/established
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of duration)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अभवत्: there was/was born
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भद्रशीलः: Bhadraśīla
• भद्रशीलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रशील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—भद्र + शील (कर्मधारय)

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातः: known/called
• ख्यातः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रसिद्धः’

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तस्य (षष्ठी) सम्बन्धी

• वशी: self-controlled/masterful
• वशी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सुतस्य)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Gālava
• Bhadraśīla

FAQs

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

It establishes a dharmic lineage: a revered sage (Gālava) and his self-controlled son (Bhadraśīla), highlighting that inner restraint and good conduct are the foundation for spiritual authority.

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

While not explicitly teaching bhakti, it sets the prerequisite temperament for devotion—vaśitva (mastery over the senses) and bhadra-śīla (noble character), which stabilize the mind for sustained Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (dama/saṃyama), which supports all Vedic study—especially correct practice of ritual and recitation.