Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

नारद उपाच । किंलक्षणा भागवतास्ते च किं कर्म्म कुर्वते । तेषां लोको भवेत्कीदृक्तत्सर्वं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

nārada upāca | kiṃlakṣaṇā bhāgavatāste ca kiṃ karmma kurvate | teṣāṃ loko bhavetkīdṛktatsarvaṃ brūhi tattvataḥ || 39 ||

Translation

ນາຣະດະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ຜູ້ເປັນພາກະວະຕະ (ຜູ້ອຸທິດແດ່ພຣະພະຄະວານ) ມີລັກສະນະແນວໃດ? ເຂົາເຮັດກຳອັນໃດ? ແລະເຂົາໄດ້ບັນລຸໂລກ (ຄະຕິ) ແນວໃດ? ຂໍໃຫ້ທ່ານບອກທັງໝົດຕາມຄວາມຈິງ»។

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Narada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• kiṃlakṣaṇāḥ: having what characteristics
• kiṃlakṣaṇāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṃlakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• bhāgavatāḥ: devotees of the Lord
• bhāgavatāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• te: they
• te: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• kim: what
• kim: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• karma: action/work
• karma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kurvate: they do/perform
• kurvate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Atmanepada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Plural

• teṣām: their
• teṣām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• lokaḥ: world/realm
• lokaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavet: should be/would be
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• kīdṛk: of what kind
• kīdṛk: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīdṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brūhi: tell/speak
• brūhi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• tattvataḥ: in truth/essentially
• tattvataḥ: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (Tasil Suffix/तसिल्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Bhagavan (Vishnu)
• Bhagavatas

FAQs

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

This verse frames a core inquiry of the Purana: how to recognize a true Bhagavata (devotee of Bhagavān) by their inner marks and outer conduct, and what spiritual destiny such devotion leads to.

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

By asking for the “lakṣaṇa” (defining signs) and “karma” (practices) of Bhāgavatas, Narada points to bhakti as a lived discipline—devotion expressed through character, worship, and righteous conduct that culminates in attaining Bhagavān’s realm.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Śikṣā) is taught in this verse; instead, it sets up an ethical-spiritual framework—identifying devotees by observable conduct (ācāra) and truthful understanding (tattvataḥ).