Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

ये वै तडागकर्तारो देवसद्मानि कुर्वते । गायत्रीनिरता ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

ye vai taḍāgakartāro devasadmāni kurvate | gāyatrīniratā ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 63 ||

Translation

Those who construct ponds (for public benefit), who build abodes for the gods (temples), and who remain devoted to the recitation of the Gāyatrī—such people are indeed the foremost among the devotees of Bhagavān.

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक

• तडाग-कर्तारः: makers of ponds
• तडाग-कर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (makers of ponds), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देव-सद्मानि: temples / divine abodes
• देव-सद्मानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + सद्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (dwellings/temples of the gods), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• कुर्वते: they make
• कुर्वते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• गायत्री-निरताः: devoted to the Gāyatrī
• गायत्री-निरताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (engaged in Gāyatrī [japa/recitation]), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to 'ते'

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक

• भागवत-उत्तमाः: the best Bhāgavatas
• भागवत-उत्तमाः: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधाननाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Deva

FAQs

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

It defines “bhāgavatottama” (the highest devotee) through concrete dharmic acts—public welfare (ponds), deity-service (temple building), and daily mantra-discipline (Gāyatrī), showing devotion as both inner practice and outer service.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent service to Bhagavān via supporting worship (deva-sadma/temple) and compassion toward beings (water resources), anchored by steady Gāyatrī-japa as a purified devotional routine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to mantra-prayoga through Gāyatrī-japa—requiring correct pronunciation and recitation discipline (Śikṣā) and proper usage of Vedic mantra in daily practice (Kalpa).