Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68
Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam
The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya
शिवप्रियाः शिवासक्ताः शिवपादार्च्चने रताः । त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणो ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ६८ ॥
śivapriyāḥ śivāsaktāḥ śivapādārccane ratāḥ | tripuṇḍradhāriṇo ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 68 ||
Diejenigen, die Śiva lieb sind, die an Śiva hängen und in der Verehrung seiner Füße versunken sind—und die die Tripuṇḍra, die drei heiligen Aschelinien, tragen—sie sind wahrlich die höchsten Bhāgavatas.
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; verse praises Shaiva marks within Bhāgavata devotion)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It declares that sincere devotion expressed through Śiva-pūjā—especially humble worship of Śiva’s feet and the Shaiva mark of tripuṇḍra—is a sign of the highest grade of devotion (bhāgavatottama).
Bhakti is shown as loving attachment and steady engagement (ratāḥ) in worship; outward disciplines like tripuṇḍra support inner devotion and identity as a dedicated worshipper.
Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: arcanā (formal worship) and dhāraṇa of sectarian marks (tripuṇḍra) as part of regulated devotional observance.