Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

पुराणसंहितां कर्त्तुं दत्तवान्वरमच्युतः । मार्कण्डेयो मुनिस्तस्मान्नारायण इति स्मृतः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇasaṃhitāṃ karttuṃ dattavānvaramacyutaḥ | mārkaṇḍeyo munistasmānnārāyaṇa iti smṛtaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

অচ্যুতদেৱে পুৰাণ-সংহিতা ৰচনাৰ বৰ দিলে; সেয়ে সেই মুনি মার্কণ্ডেয় ‘নাৰায়ণ’ বুলি স্মৃত।

Word by Word

• पुराणसंहिताम्: the Purāṇa-compilation
• पुराणसंहिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण-संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to compose
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), कर्तरि (active sense)

• दत्तवान्: gave
• दत्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfective active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to मार्कण्डेयः

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (ablatival adverbial use); हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे (therefore/from that)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (as a name)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-marker (उद्धरणचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• स्मृतः: was known/called
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the Purāṇic dialogue (contextually aligned with the Nārada–Sanatkumāra discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Markandeya
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It grounds the Purāṇic tradition in divine sanction: the Lord (Acyuta) empowers a sage to compile sacred history and dharma, showing Purāṇa as a revealed and protected vehicle of spiritual knowledge.

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

By centering Acyuta as the giver of grace and authority, the verse implies that sacred teaching and realization flow from the Lord’s favor—an essential Bhakti theme of dependence on Viṣṇu’s compassion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights textual transmission and compilation (saṃhitā/saṅgraha) as a disciplined tradition—supportive of Vedāṅga concerns like proper wording and preservation (especially aligned with Vyākaraṇa and Chandas in maintaining accurate scripture).