Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

तपश्चचार परममच्युतप्रीतिकारणम् । आराधितो जगन्नाथो मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tapaścacāra paramamacyutaprītikāraṇam | ārādhito jagannātho mārkaṇḍeyena dhīmatā || 16 ||

Translation

ព្រះឥសីមារកណ្ឌេយ្យាដ៏ប្រាជ្ញា បានអនុវត្តតបៈដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់បំផុត ដើម្បីទទួលព្រះគុណរបស់អច្យុត; ដូច្នេះ ព្រះជគន្នាថា ព្រះអម្ចាស់នៃសកលលោក ត្រូវបានគាត់បូជាអារាធនា។

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd) एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण (object)

• चचार: performed
• चचार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of तपः

• अच्युतप्रीतिकारणम्: a cause of Acyuta’s pleasure
• अच्युतप्रीतिकारणम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत-प्रीति-कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of तपः; (अच्युतस्य प्रीतेः कारणम्)

• आराधितः: was worshipped
• आराधितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• जगन्नाथः: Lord of the world
• जगन्नाथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्-नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मार्कण्डेयेन: by Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• धीमता: by the wise one
• धीमता: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of मार्कण्डेयेन

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Jagannatha (Vishnu)
• Markandeya

FAQs

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

It teaches that tapas is most fruitful when aimed at pleasing Acyuta (Vishnu), showing devotion-driven austerity as a direct means to divine grace.

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

Bhakti is highlighted as the inner intention behind practice: Mārkaṇḍeya’s austerity is explicitly for Acyuta’s pleasure, and worship (ārādhana) of Jagannātha becomes the core devotional act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-discipline—structured tapas and worship as a devotional regimen.