Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3
Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam
The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya
सनक उवाच । शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि कथामेतां सनातनीम् । विष्णुभक्तिसमायुक्तां मार्कण्डेयमुनिं प्रति ॥ ३ ॥
sanaka uvāca | śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi kathāmetāṃ sanātanīm | viṣṇubhaktisamāyuktāṃ mārkaṇḍeyamuniṃ prati || 3 ||
சனகர் கூறினார்—ஓ நாரதா, கேள்; விஷ்ணு பக்தியால் நிறைந்த இந்த சனாதனக் கதையை, மார்கண்டேய முனிவரைச் சார்ந்ததாக, உனக்கு நான் உரைப்பேன்।
Sanaka
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes the verse’s authority and purpose: an “eternal” (sanātanī) teaching transmitted through rishi lineage, centered on Viṣṇu-bhakti as a direct means toward spiritual upliftment and liberation-oriented understanding.
By explicitly describing the forthcoming account as “endowed with devotion to Viṣṇu” (viṣṇu-bhakti-samāyuktā), it signals that the narrative itself is a vehicle for bhakti—hearing (śravaṇa) and receiving the tradition become devotional practice.
The verse primarily highlights itihāsa–purāṇa style transmission and the discipline of śravaṇa (listening) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; its practical takeaway is the method of learning—receiving dharma and devotion through authoritative oral narration.