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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

तस्मिञ्जले महाघोरे स्थितवाञ्छीर्णपत्रवत् । मार्कण्डेयः स्थितस्तावद्यावच्छेते हरिः स्वयम् ॥ २० ॥

tasmiñjale mahāghore sthitavāñchīrṇapatravat | mārkaṇḍeyaḥ sthitastāvadyāvacchete hariḥ svayam || 20 ||

Di hamparan air yang amat mengerikan itu, Mārkaṇḍeya bertahan seperti daun kering yang terapung, selama Hari sendiri berbaring dalam yoga-nidrā.

तस्मिन्in that
तस्मिन्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)
जलेin water
जले:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootजल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)
महाघोरेvery terrible
महाघोरे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय (mahā + ghora), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with जले), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण
स्थितवान्having remained/stood
स्थितवान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु) → स्थितवत् (क्तवत्-प्रत्यय)
Formकृदन्त (क्तवत्/Perfect participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि
शीर्ण-पत्र-वत्like a withered leaf
शीर्ण-पत्र-वत्:
Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
Formउपमानार्थक अव्यय (simile adverb), अव्ययीभाव-समास (…वत् = ‘like’)
मार्कण्डेयःMārkaṇḍeya
मार्कण्डेयः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन
स्थितःwas staying/was situated
स्थितः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु) → स्थित (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle)
Formकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि-प्रकृति but used predicatively ‘was situated’
तावत्so long
तावत्:
Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतावत् (अव्यय)
Formपरिमाण/अवधि-अव्यय (until then/so long)
यावत्as long as
यावत्:
Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयावत् (अव्यय)
Formअवधि-सूचक अव्यय (correlative with तावत्: ‘as long as’)
शेतेlies/sleeps
शेते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootशी (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद
हरिःHari
हरिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
स्वयम्himself
स्वयम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम् (अव्यय)
Formस्वयम्-शब्दः (indeclinable), आत्मकर्तृ-प्रयोग (emphatic ‘himself’)

Narada (narrating/teaching in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

M
Markandeya
H
Hari
V
Vishnu

FAQs

It highlights the pralaya setting where the cosmos is submerged, yet the devotee-sage Mārkaṇḍeya endures by divine arrangement, while Hari remains the unshaken ground of reality in yogic repose.

By depicting Mārkaṇḍeya’s helplessness amid terrifying waters and Hari’s sovereign presence, the verse implies that in ultimate uncertainty, refuge in Viṣṇu (Hari) is the sustaining principle for the devotee.

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it is primarily purāṇic cosmology (pralaya and yoga-nidrā) used to reinforce theological understanding of Viṣṇu’s role as preserver.