Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

पानीयदाननिरता येऽन्नदानरतास्तथा । एकादशीव्रतरता ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

pānīyadānaniratā ye'nnadānaratāstathā | ekādaśīvrataratā te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 74 ||

Translation

പാനീയജലദാനത്തിൽ നിരതരും, അന്നദാനത്തിൽ ആനന്ദിക്കുന്നവരും, ഏകാദശീ വ്രതത്തിൽ അചഞ്ചലരുമായവർ—അവർ തന്നെയാണ് ഭഗവാന്റെ ഭക്തന്മാരിൽ ഉത്തമർ.

Word by Word

• पानीयदाननिरताः: devoted to giving drinking-water
• पानीयदाननिरताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पानीय-दान-निरत (प्रातिपदिक; पानीय + दान + निरत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative plural; adjective)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (Masculine, Nominative plural; relative pronoun)

• अन्नदानरताः: engaged in giving food
• अन्नदानरताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्न-दान-रत (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + दान + रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative plural; adjective)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb)

• एकादशीव्रतरताः: devoted to the Ekādaśī vow
• एकादशीव्रतरताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादशी-व्रत-रत (प्रातिपदिक; एकादशी + व्रत + रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative plural; adjective)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (Masculine, Nominative plural; demonstrative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeclinable particle of emphasis/assurance)

• भागवतोत्तमाः: the best devotees (Bhāgavatas)
• भागवतोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; भागवत + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संज्ञा (Masculine, Nominative plural; noun)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Narada Purana dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ekadashi
• Bhagavan (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It defines “bhāgavatottama” not merely by belief but by lived devotion—serving beings through essential charity (water and food) and honoring Viṣṇu through Ekādaśī-vrata.

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

Bhakti is shown as both worship and compassion: Ekādaśī aligns the devotee with Bhagavān, while water- and food-giving express devotion as selfless service (sevā) to living beings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The observance of Ekādaśī relies on calendrical timing from Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology) to identify the lunar tithi correctly, integrating ritual discipline with sacred timekeeping.