Shloka 20

Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy

Devanagari script

यं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मतनये सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । मार्जनं तत्र वक्ष्यामि मार्कंडेयह्रदे शुभे ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

yaṃ dṛṣṭvā brahmatanaye sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt | mārjanaṃ tatra vakṣyāmi mārkaṃḍeyahrade śubhe || 20 ||

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മതനയാ! അതിനെ ദർശിച്ചാൽ മാത്രമേ എല്ലാ ഇഷ്ടഫലങ്ങളും ലഭിക്കൂ. ഇനി ആ ശുഭമായ മാർകണ്ഡേയ ഹ്രദത്തിൽ മാർജന (ശുദ്ധി) വിധി ഞാൻ വിവരിക്കുന്നു॥২০॥

Word by Word

• यम्: whom/which
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• ब्रह्मतनये: in/at the son of Brahmā (i.e., Brahmā’s son)
• ब्रह्मतनये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः तनयः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मार्जनम्: cleansing/rite of purification
• मार्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• वक्ष्यामि: I will describe
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मार्कण्डेयह्रदे: in the Mārkaṇḍeya lake
• मार्कण्डेयह्रदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय-ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मार्कण्डेयस्य ह्रदः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (ह्रदे)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Markandeya
• Markandeya-hrada

FAQs

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

It presents the tirtha-phala doctrine: mere darśana (sacred sight) of the Markandeya-hrada is said to grant desired aims, and it introduces the specific purificatory practice (mārjana) to be performed there for spiritual cleansing and merit.

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

Bhakti is implied through reverent approach to a sacred place—darśana and ritual purification are framed as grace-bearing acts; the devotee’s faith-filled encounter with the tīrtha is treated as spiritually efficacious, preparing one for deeper worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kalpa/ritual procedure in practice: mārjana denotes a formal cleansing act (often involving sanctified water and mantras), indicating regulated rite-structure rather than mere sentiment—typical of tīrtha rituals described in Purāṇic kalpa-style instructions.