The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
तासु दुर्गाकथात्यंतं पुण्यदा चाष्टमेंऽतरे । तत्पश्चात्प्रणवोत्पत्तिस्त्रयीतेजः समुद्भवा ॥ ९ ॥
tāsu durgākathātyaṃtaṃ puṇyadā cāṣṭameṃ'tare | tatpaścātpraṇavotpattistrayītejaḥ samudbhavā || 9 ||
Entre esos temas, en la octava sección se halla el santísimo relato de Durgā, que otorga gran mérito. Después se describe el origen del Praṇava (Oṁ), nacido del resplandor de la tríada védica.
Narada (enumerating contents to the Sanatkumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
It frames two core sanctifying themes: the merit-giving narration of Durgā and the metaphysical primacy of Oṃ, presented as arising from the luminous essence of the three Vedas.
By highlighting Durgā-kathā as puṇyadā (merit-bestowing), it implies that faithful hearing/recitation of divine narratives is a devotional practice that purifies and supports dharma and spiritual progress.
It points to Vedic doctrine centered on the Trayī (Ṛg–Yajus–Sāman) and the Praṇava (Oṃ), a foundational element for mantra-prayoga and śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) in Vedic practice.