Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

यत्राधिकृत्य शकुनीन्सर्वधर्मनिरूपणम् । मार्कंडेयपुराणं तन्नवसाहस्रमीरितम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yatrādhikṛtya śakunīnsarvadharmanirūpaṇam | mārkaṃḍeyapurāṇaṃ tannavasāhasramīritam || 2 ||

Translation

Ce Purāṇa, qui prend pour thème les oiseaux et expose l’enseignement de tous les dharmas, est appelé le Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa ; on dit qu’il comprend neuf mille versets.

Word by Word

• yatra: where/wherein
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (देश/प्रकरण-सूचक)

• adhikṛtya: having taken up (as subject)
• adhikṛtya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi+kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having taken as the topic’

• śakunīn: birds (śakunīs)
• śakunīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakuni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarva-dharma-nirūpaṇam: the exposition of all dharmas
• sarva-dharma-nirūpaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + nirūpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); विषयवाचकं नाम

• mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇam: the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
• mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nava-sāhasram: consisting of nine thousand
• nava-sāhasram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (नवसहस्र-संख्याकम्)

• īritam: is declared/said
• īritam: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• Markandeya Purana

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (catalogue) statement: it identifies the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa by its core narrative frame (birds) and by its dharma-focused teaching, guiding readers toward the right scripture for dharma-śāstra style inquiry.

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

Direct bhakti instruction is not the focus here; instead, the verse classifies a Purāṇa whose purpose is dharma-nirūpaṇa. In the Narada Purana’s framework, correct dharma supports purified conduct, which becomes a foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This verse primarily reflects śāstra-indexing (anukramaṇikā method)—a technical, systematic way of organizing sacred literature by topic and extent, rather than teaching a specific Vedāṅga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.