Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । सहस्रशिरसं देवं नारायणमनामयम् । वासुदेवमनाधारं प्रणतोऽस्मि जनार्दनम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | sahasraśirasaṃ devaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam | vāsudevamanādhāraṃ praṇato'smi janārdanam || 36 ||

Translation

মার্কণ্ডেয় বললেন—সহস্রশিরা দেব, নিরাময় নারায়ণ, আশ্রয়াতীত বাসুদেব জনার্দনকে আমি প্রণাম করি।

Word by Word

• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Markandeya
• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect Tense), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd Person), Singular

• sahasraśirasam: thousand-headed
• sahasraśirasam: Visheshana (Adjective to janārdanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasraśiras
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (sahasraṃ śirāṃsi yasya tam)

• devam: divine/God
• devam: Visheshana (Adjective to janārdanam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nārāyaṇam: Narayana
• nārāyaṇam: Visheshana (Adjective to janārdanam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anāmayam: free from disease/affliction
• anāmayam: Visheshana (Adjective to janārdanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anāmaya
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (na vidyate āmayaḥ yasmin tam - Nai Bahuvrihi)

• vāsudevam: Vasudeva
• vāsudevam: Visheshana (Adjective to janārdanam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anādhāram: without support (self-sustaining)
• anādhāram: Visheshana (Adjective to janārdanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādhāra
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (na vidyate ādhāraḥ yasya tam - supportless/self-supported)

• praṇataḥ: bowed/surrendered
• praṇataḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇata (pra + nam + kta)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle acting as Agent

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present Tense), Parasmaipada, Uttama Purusha (1st Person), Singular

• janārdanam: Janardana (Liberator of men)
• janārdanam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (janān ardayati iti - Upapada Tatpurusha)

Speaker

Markandeya

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vasudeva
• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a devotional invocation (stuti) affirming Vishnu’s transcendence: Nārāyaṇa is “anāmaya” (untouched by suffering) and “anādhāra” (self-existent), so surrender to Him becomes the stable foundation for dharma and liberation.

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

Bhakti begins with praṇāma (humble surrender). By naming the Lord as Nārāyaṇa, Vāsudeva, and Janārdana, the verse models remembrance (smaraṇa) and praise (kīrtana) as direct practices of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it is primarily a mantra-like eulogy used as an auspicious opening, aligning with the Vedic principle of beginning study/ritual with invocation and pranāma.