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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

श्रीभगवानुवाच । लक्षणं भागवतानां शृणुष्व मुनिसत्तम । वक्तुं तेषां प्रभावं हि शक्यते नाब्दकोटिभिः ॥ ४९ ॥

śrībhagavānuvāca | lakṣaṇaṃ bhāgavatānāṃ śṛṇuṣva munisattama | vaktuṃ teṣāṃ prabhāvaṃ hi śakyate nābdakoṭibhiḥ || 49 ||

قال الربّ المبارك: «يا أفضلَ الحكماء، استمعْ إلى سماتِ البهاغافاتا (عبّاد الربّ). حقًّا إن عظمتَهم لا تُستوفى وصفًا ولو بكُرورٍ من الكلمات».

śrī-bhagavānthe Blessed Lord
śrī-bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound used as proper honorific
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
lakṣaṇamcharacteristic
lakṣaṇam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootlakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
bhāgavatānāmof the devotees (Bhāgavatas)
bhāgavatānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootbhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
śṛṇuṣvalisten
śṛṇuṣva:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśru (धातु)
FormImperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada
muni-sattamaO best of sages
muni-sattama:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
vaktumto describe/speak
vaktum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormInfinitive (तुमुन्/तुम्), indeclinable verbal form; purpose sense
teṣāmof them
teṣām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
prabhāvampower/glory
prabhāvam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootprabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
hiindeed/for
hi:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), emphatic/causal nuance
śakyateis possible/can be done
śakyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśak (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
abda-koṭibhiḥby crores of words
abda-koṭibhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootabda (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) as koṭi; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Sri Bhagavan (the Blessed Lord, i.e., Vishnu)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

V
Vishnu

FAQs

It establishes that true devotees (Bhagavatas) are so spiritually exalted that their glory is beyond complete verbal description, preparing the listener to receive their defining marks with reverence.

By highlighting the immeasurable greatness of Bhagavatas, the verse elevates bhakti as a supreme path where the devotee’s inner transformation and divine favor surpass ordinary praise and intellectual assessment.

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is devotional orientation—listening (śravaṇa) to the marks of devotees as a guide for conduct and association.