Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच । अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि मार्कंडेयाभिधं मुने । पुराणं सुमहत्पुण्यं पठतां श्रृण्वतां सदा ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrībrahmovāca | atha te saṃpravakṣyāmi mārkaṃḍeyābhidhaṃ mune | purāṇaṃ sumahatpuṇyaṃ paṭhatāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ sadā || 1 ||

Translation

Śrī Brahmā sprach: Nun, o Weiser, werde ich dir vollständig das Purāṇa darlegen, das Mārkaṇḍeya genannt wird—überaus umfangreich und höchst verdienstvoll für jene, die es stets lesen, und für jene, die es beständig hören.

Word by Word

• śrī-brahmā: the revered Brahmā
• śrī-brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + brahmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधन-पूर्वक वक्तृ-निर्देशः

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपदम्

• atha: now/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक/क्रमसूचक)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃpravakṣyāmi: I shall fully explain
• saṃpravakṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः saṃ-, pra-

• mārkaṇḍeya-abhidham: called ‘Mārkaṇḍeya’
• mārkaṇḍeya-abhidham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (नाम-निर्देशकः)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• purāṇam: Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• su-mahat-puṇyam: very great and holy
• su-mahat-puṇyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (पुराणस्य)

• paṭhatām: of those who read/recite
• paṭhatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paṭh (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); परस्मैपदी; ‘of those who recite/read’

• śṛṇvatām: of those who listen
• śṛṇvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); परस्मैपदी; ‘of those who listen’

• sadā: always
• sadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (कालवाचक)

Speaker

Brahma

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Markandeya

FAQs

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

It frames Purāṇa-śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation) as direct sources of puṇya, and introduces the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa as a vast, sanctifying scripture worthy of sustained engagement.

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

By praising continual hearing and recitation, it highlights a key bhakti practice—regular śravaṇa and kīrtana-like engagement with sacred narratives—which purifies the mind and strengthens devotional orientation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the sādhana-method: disciplined reading/recitation and attentive listening as a repeatable ritual practice.