Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 1

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच संस्तुतो भगवानित्थं मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता । नारायणो नरसख: प्रीत आह भृगूद्वहम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sūta uvāca saṁstuto bhagavān itthaṁ mārkaṇḍeyena dhīmatā nārāyaṇo nara-sakhaḥ prīta āha bhṛgūdvaham

Translation

Sūta sprach: Als der weise Mārkaṇḍeya den Herrn so verherrlichte, war Nārāyaṇa, der Freund Nara’s, zufrieden und wandte sich an jenen vortrefflichen Nachkommen Bhṛgus.

Synonyms

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• saṁstutaḥ: being praised
• saṁstutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√stu (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘praised’

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘thus/in this manner’

• mārkaṇḍeyena: by Mārkaṇḍeya
• mārkaṇḍeyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dhīmatā: wise
• dhīmatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; विशेषण (मārkaṇḍeyena)

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nara-sakhaḥ: friend of Nara
• nara-sakhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + sakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘नरस्य सखा’

• prītaḥ: pleased
• prītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prī (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘pleased’

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• bhṛgu-udvaham: to the best of the Bhṛgus
• bhṛgu-udvaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + udvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘भृगूणाम् उद्वहः’ (श्रेष्ठः)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta Gosvāmī
• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Nārāyaṇa
• Nara

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pleasing Lord Narayana through prayers?

This verse states that when Mārkaṇḍeya properly glorified the Lord, Nārāyaṇa became pleased and responded—showing that heartfelt stuti draws the Lord’s mercy and personal reply.

Why is Lord Narayana called 'Nara-sakha' in this verse?

He is described as the friend of Nara, indicating His identity as Nara-Nārāyaṇa and highlighting the Lord’s intimate, personal relationship with His devotees and associates.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Offer sincere, focused prayers and glorification with humility and intelligence (dhīmatā); devotion expressed through genuine praise cultivates inner steadiness and invites divine guidance.