Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

स बालो ववृधे तत्र शुक्लपक्ष इवोडुपः । ततस्तु पञ्चमे वर्षे उपनीय मुदान्वितः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

sa bālo vavṛdhe tatra śuklapakṣa ivoḍupaḥ | tatastu pañcame varṣe upanīya mudānvitaḥ || 8 ||

Translation

ସେ ବାଳକ ସେଠାରେ ଶୁକ୍ଳପକ୍ଷର ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରମା ପରି ବଢ଼ିଲା। ପରେ ପଞ୍ଚମ ବର୍ଷରେ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ତାହାର ଉପନୟନ ସଂସ୍କାର ହେଲା॥ ୮ ॥

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बालः: the boy
• बालः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ववृधे: grew
• ववृधे: क्रिया (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• शुक्ल-पक्षः: the bright fortnight
• शुक्ल-पक्षः: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (शुक्लः पक्षः)

• इव: like/as
• इव: उपमा-सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक निपात (comparative particle)

• उडुपः: the moon
• उडुपः: कर्ता (Subject in simile/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उडुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमेय (thing compared)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतुवाचक (then/from that)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• पञ्चमे: in the fifth
• पञ्चमे: अधिकरण (Time-locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (to वर्षे)

• वर्षे: year
• वर्षे: अधिकरण (Time-locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (time)

• उपनीय: having initiated (with upanayana)
• उपनीय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to implied main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having initiated/led near’ (upanayana sense)

• मुदा-अन्वितः: filled with joy
• मुदा-अन्वितः: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (मुदया अन्वितः = endowed with joy)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights the dharmic ideal that inner growth should culminate in formal entry into Vedic discipline through upanayana, marking the start of regulated learning and self-restraint.

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

Indirectly: by showing that bhakti and higher spiritual practice are supported by samskaras like upanayana, which prepare the mind through purity, study, and disciplined conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the samskara framework that enables Vedic study—traditionally leading into śikṣā (phonetics), vyākaraṇa (grammar), and kalpa (ritual procedure) as part of structured learning.