Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

चचार धर्मं सततं सदा संचिन्तयन्हरिम् । मार्कण्डेयो महाभागो दयावान्धर्मवत्सलः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

cacāra dharmaṃ satataṃ sadā saṃcintayanharim | mārkaṇḍeyo mahābhāgo dayāvāndharmavatsalaḥ || 14 ||

Translation

Resi Mārkaṇḍeya yang amat berbahagia sentiasa meniti jalan Dharma, terus-menerus merenungkan Hari; beliau penyayang, berbelas kasihan, dan sangat mencintai kebenaran dharma.

Word by Word

• चचार: practised / performed
• चचार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• संचिन्तयन्: meditating upon
• संचिन्तयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपद, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियासह समकालिक (contemporaneous)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• महाभागः: greatly fortunate
• महाभागः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) of मार्कण्डेयः

• दयावान्: compassionate
• दयावान्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• धर्मवत्सलः: fond of dharma
• धर्मवत्सलः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मवत्सल (प्रातिपदिक: धर्म + वत्सल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of मार्कण्डेयः

Speaker

Narada (narrating in the Narada Purana’s dialogue stream to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Markandeya

FAQs

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

It defines an ideal sādhaka: Dharma in action joined with uninterrupted remembrance of Hari, showing that righteous living becomes spiritually complete when rooted in God-consciousness.

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

Bhakti is presented as steady smaraṇa—continual contemplation of Hari—so that daily conduct (dharma) and inner devotion move together rather than separately.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught here; the practical takeaway is sādhana-discipline—maintaining ethical conduct (dharma) and continuous mental focus (smaraṇa) as a daily practice.