Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

मार्कंडेयमुनेः प्रश्नो जैमिनेः प्राक्समीरितः । पक्षिणां धर्मसंज्ञानं ततो जन्मनिरूपणम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

mārkaṃḍeyamuneḥ praśno jaimineḥ prāksamīritaḥ | pakṣiṇāṃ dharmasaṃjñānaṃ tato janmanirūpaṇam || 3 ||

Translation

Zuerst wird die Frage des Weisen Mārkaṇḍeya genannt, die Jaimini zuvor übermittelt haben soll; dann folgt die Lehre, welche die Dharma der Vögel bestimmt, und danach die Darstellung ihres Ursprungs (ihrer Geburt).

Word by Word

• mārkaṇḍeya-muneḥ: of sage Mārkaṇḍeya
• mārkaṇḍeya-muneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• praśnaḥ: the question
• praśnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• jaimineḥ: of Jaimini
• jaimineḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaimini (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāk: previously
• prāk: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (पूर्वकालवाचक)

• samīritaḥ: was stated/uttered
• samīritaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pakṣiṇām: of the birds
• pakṣiṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dharma-saṃjñānam: the knowledge/definition of dharma
• dharma-saṃjñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (अनन्तर/हेतुतः)

• janma-nirūpaṇam: the exposition of (their) birth
• janma-nirūpaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक) + nirūpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) summarizing the upcoming topics (anukramanika-style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Jaimini

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (topic-index) marker, showing that dharma is taught not only for humans but across living beings, and that understanding conduct (dharma) is linked to understanding origin (janma).

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

This specific verse does not directly teach bhakti practices; it frames the narrative sequence—questions, dharma-definition, and origins—within which devotion-oriented teachings may later be situated.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No Vedāṅga (e.g., Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa) is explicitly taught in this line; it is a structural summary indicating the forthcoming doctrinal and narrative exposition.