Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । किं लक्षणा भागवता जायन्ते केन कर्म्मणा । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कौतूहलपरो यतः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | kiṃ lakṣaṇā bhāgavatā jāyante kena karmmaṇā | etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ kautūhalaparo yataḥ || 48 ||

Translation

মার্কণ্ডেয় বললেন—ভাগবতদের লক্ষণ কী? কোন কর্মের দ্বারা তারা ভাগবত হয়? আমি এটি শুনতে চাই, কারণ আমি কৌতূহলে পরিপূর্ণ।

Word by Word

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

• uvāca: Said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect Tense (Lit), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• kiṃlakṣaṇāḥ: Having what characteristics?
• kiṃlakṣaṇāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to Bhāgavatāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṃlakṣaṇa (kim + lakṣaṇa) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/Prathama), Plural

• bhāgavatāḥ: Devotees
• bhāgavatāḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/Prathama), Plural

• jāyante: Are born/Become
• jāyante: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), 3rd Person (Prathama), Plural, Atmanepada

• kena: By what
• kena: Visheshana (Adjective to Karmana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/Tritiya), Singular

• karmmaṇā: Action/Deed
• karmmaṇā: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/Tritiya), Singular

• etat: This
• etat: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/Dvitiya), Singular

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), 1st Person (Uttama), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/Prathama), Singular

• śrotum: To hear
• śrotum: Karma (Object of desire)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun)

• kautūhalaparaḥ: Filled with curiosity/Intent on curiosity
• kautūhalaparaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to Aham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kautūhalapara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/Prathama), Singular

• yataḥ: Because/Since
• yataḥ: Hetu (Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Conjunction

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Bhagavān (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

This verse frames a core Narada Purana inquiry: devotion is recognizable by definite lakṣaṇas (marks) and is cultivated through specific karmas, prompting a systematic teaching on what makes one a true Bhagavata.

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

It indicates that Bhakti is not merely a feeling but a lived discipline—devotees have identifiable qualities and become established in devotion through purposeful actions aligned with Bhagavān.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to karma (right action) and lakṣaṇa (defining criteria), aligning with dharma-śāstra style analysis; it does not directly teach a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this line.