Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

शिवप्रियाः शिवासक्ताः शिवपादार्च्चने रताः । त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणो ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

śivapriyāḥ śivāsaktāḥ śivapādārccane ratāḥ | tripuṇḍradhāriṇo ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 68 ||

Translation

シヴァ（Śiva）に愛され、シヴァに心を寄せ、シヴァの御足を礼拝することに没入し、さらに三本の聖灰の印であるトリプンダラ（tripuṇḍra）を身に帯びる者—その人こそまことに最上のバ―ガヴァタである。

Word by Word

• शिवप्रियाः: dear to Śiva
• शिवप्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य प्रियाः = dear to Śiva)

• शिवासक्ताः: attached to Śiva
• शिवासक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आसक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवे आसक्ताः = attached to Śiva)

• शिवपादार्च्चने: in the worship of Śiva’s feet
• शिवपादार्च्चने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पाद + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पादयोः अर्चने = in worship of Śiva’s feet)

• रताः: devoted
• रताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘engaged/devoted’

• त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणः: wearers of the tripuṇḍra marks
• त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + पुण्ड्र + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयन्ति = wearers of the tripuṇḍra)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय

• भागवतोत्तमाः: the best devotees
• भागवतोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; verse praises Shaiva marks within Bhāgavata devotion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that sincere devotion expressed through Śiva-pūjā—especially humble worship of Śiva’s feet and the Shaiva mark of tripuṇḍra—is a sign of the highest grade of devotion (bhāgavatottama).

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

Bhakti is shown as loving attachment and steady engagement (ratāḥ) in worship; outward disciplines like tripuṇḍra support inner devotion and identity as a dedicated worshipper.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: arcanā (formal worship) and dhāraṇa of sectarian marks (tripuṇḍra) as part of regulated devotional observance.