Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

चिरजीवी महाभक्तो देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः । जगत्येकार्णवीभूते स्वप्रभावं जनार्द्दनः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

cirajīvī mahābhakto devadevasya cakriṇaḥ | jagatyekārṇavībhūte svaprabhāvaṃ janārddanaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

நீண்ட ஆயுளுடைய, தேவர்களின் தேவனாகிய சக்கரதாரியின் மகாபக்தன்—உலகம் ஒரே பெருங்கடலாக ஆனபோது—ஜனார்தனனின் தெய்வீக சுயமகிமையைத் தரிசித்தான்.

Word by Word

• चिरजीवी: long-lived
• चिरजीवी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर-जीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महाभक्तः: great devotee
• महाभक्तः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभक्त (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• देवदेवस्य: of the god of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• चक्रिणः: of the discus-bearer
• चक्रिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to देवदेवस्य

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• एकार्णवीभूते: when it had become a single ocean (flooded)
• एकार्णवीभूते: Adhikaraṇa-anvaya (अधिकरणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक-अर्णविन्-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of जगति; (एकः अर्णवः इव भूते)

• स्वप्रभावम्: his own power/nature
• स्वप्रभावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जनार्द्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्द्दनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Janardana

FAQs

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

It teaches that in cosmic dissolution (when the world becomes a single ocean), the Lord’s true majesty (svaprabhāva) is revealed to a steadfast great devotee—showing bhakti as a direct means to divine vision.

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

By highlighting a mahābhakta who, even amid pralaya-like conditions, remains oriented to the Cakrin (Viṣṇu) and thereby perceives the Lord’s inherent glory—implying devotion endures beyond worldly stability.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; instead it uses Purāṇic cosmology (ekārṇava/pralaya imagery) as a doctrinal frame to emphasize bhakti-based realization.