Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां हितवाक्यानि ये वदन्ति नरोत्तमाः । ये गुणग्राहिणो लोके ते वै भागवताः स्मृताः ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

sarveṣāṃ hitavākyāni ye vadanti narottamāḥ | ye guṇagrāhiṇo loke te vai bhāgavatāḥ smṛtāḥ || 56 ||

Translation

যে নরশ্রেষ্ঠ সকলের মঙ্গলকর বাক্য বলেন এবং এই জগতে যাঁরা গুণগ্রাহী (অন্যের সদ্গুণ গ্রহণকারী)—তাঁরাই ভাগবত বলে স্মৃত।

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (सामान्य-प्रयोगः), षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्

• हित-वाक्यानि: beneficial words
• हित-वाक्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (हितानि वाक्यानि = beneficial words)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• वदन्ति: speak
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• नर-उत्तमाः: best among men
• नर-उत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (श्रेष्ठा नराः)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• गुण-ग्राहिणः: appreciators of virtues
• गुण-ग्राहिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (गुणान् गृह्णन्ति = appreciative of virtues)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः

• भागवताः: devotees (Bhagavatas)
• भागवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• स्मृताः: are called
• स्मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; कर्मणि (are called)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the characteristics of a Bhāgavata)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It defines a Bhāgavata not merely by identity or ritual, but by conduct: speech that benefits all beings and a mind trained to recognize virtue, reflecting devotion expressed as compassion and sattvic discernment.

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

Bhakti is shown as ethical devotion—serving others through uplifting speech and honoring good qualities in people—indicating a devotee’s heart aligned with Bhagavān’s welfare-oriented nature.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dhārmic speech (hitavākya) and guṇa-darśana (seeing virtues), which support proper conduct in all Vedic disciplines and rituals.