Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

त्रिकालं सूर्यमभ्यर्च्य सलिलाञ्जलिदानतः । वैदिकं कर्म कर्तव्यं वेदाध्ययनपूर्वकम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

trikālaṃ sūryamabhyarcya salilāñjalidānataḥ | vaidikaṃ karma kartavyaṃ vedādhyayanapūrvakam || 10 ||

Translation

Having worshipped the Sun at the three junctions of the day and offered water in añjali as an oblation, one should perform the Vedic rites—preceded by the study of the Veda.

Word by Word

• त्रिकालम्: at the three times (daily)
• त्रिकालम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन रूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative) ‘three times (a day)’

• सूर्यम्: the Sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• सलिलाञ्जलिदानतः: by offering water as añjali
• सलिलाञ्जलिदानतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सलिल + अञ्जलि + दान + तस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय; पूर्वपदसमाहारः (सलिल-अञ्जलि-दान) तत्पुरुषभावः; ‘by/through the act of offering water in handfuls’

• वैदिकम्: Vedic
• वैदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्म प्रति)

• कर्म: ritual duty; act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; विध्यर्थः ‘should be done’

• वेदाध्ययनपूर्वकम्: preceded by Vedic study
• वेदाध्ययनपूर्वकम्: Rīti-adhikaraṇa (रीति-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेद + अध्ययन + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावप्रयोगः (पूर्वक-शब्दः क्रियाविशेषणत्वे); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य अध्ययनम्) + ‘पूर्वक’ = ‘preceded by Veda-study’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It frames daily discipline (nitya-karma) as a sacred rhythm: worship at dawn, noon, and dusk, with water-offerings to Sūrya, culminating in Vedic action grounded in Veda-study rather than mere habit.

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

By prescribing repeated worship and reverential offerings to a divine form (Sūrya), it cultivates steadiness, remembrance, and reverence—foundational bhakti attitudes that then support more formal Vedic duties.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the primacy of vedādhyayana (Veda learning/recitation) as the prerequisite for correct ritual performance—implying competence in śikṣā (phonetics) and kalpa (ritual procedure) to carry out vaidika-karmas properly.