Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

मार्कंडेयाभिधं वत्स स लभेत्परमां गतिम् । यस्तु व्याकुरुते चैतच्छैवं स लभते पदम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

mārkaṃḍeyābhidhaṃ vatsa sa labhetparamāṃ gatim | yastu vyākurute caitacchaivaṃ sa labhate padam || 17 ||

Translation

വത്സാ! മാർക്കണ്ഡേയൻ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായവൻ പരമഗതി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. ഈ ശൈവ തത്ത്വം വ്യാഖ്യാനിക്കുന്നവനും അതേ ദിവ്യപദം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेय-अभिधम्: named ‘Mārkaṇḍeya’
• मार्कण्डेय-अभिधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'मार्कण्डेयस्य अभिधम्' = named 'Mārkaṇḍeya'); विशेषण (implied object, e.g., पुराणम्/चरितम्)

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन (address)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• लभेत्: may obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of 'गतिम्'

• गतिम्: state, destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे ('but/indeed')

• व्याकुरुते: expounds, explains
• व्याकुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चैतत्: and this
• चैतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: च (अव्यय) + एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; 'च' समुच्चय-निपात; एतद् as object

• शैवम्: Śaiva, pertaining to Śiva
• शैवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of implied object (e.g., पुराणम्/विषयम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पदम्: state, abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a phala-śruti: it praises the liberating merit (paramā gati/padam) gained by the sage Mārkaṇḍeya and by anyone who teaches or expounds the Śaiva portion, emphasizing that transmission of sacred Purāṇic knowledge is itself spiritually transformative.

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

Bhakti is implied through devotion to Śiva and through reverent sharing of Śaiva teaching; the verse links sincere proclamation (vyākhyāna) and faithful engagement with the tradition to attaining a divine abode.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verb vyākurute points to disciplined exposition—akin to Vyākaraṇa-informed clarity and traditional teaching method—stressing accurate explanation and transmission rather than a ritual detail or astrological technique.