Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

सनक उवाच । श्रृणु ब्रह्मन्परं गुह्यं मार्कण्डेयस्य धीमनः । यमुवाच जगन्नाथो योगनिद्राविमोचितः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

sanaka uvāca | śrṛṇu brahmanparaṃ guhyaṃ mārkaṇḍeyasya dhīmanaḥ | yamuvāca jagannātho yoganidrāvimocitaḥ || 41 ||

Translation

สนกะกล่าวว่า “โอ พราหมณ์ จงฟังคำสอนอันสูงสุดและลี้ลับยิ่งของมารกัณฑेयผู้มีปัญญา คือถ้อยคำที่พระชคันนาถตรัสแก่เขาเมื่อทรงพ้นจากโยคนิทราแล้ว”

Word by Word

• sanakaḥ: Sanaka
• sanakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• brahman: O Brahmin
• brahman: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• guhyam: secret
• guhyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mārkaṇḍeyasya: of Markandeya
• mārkaṇḍeyasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise one
• dhīmataḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (Corrected from dhīmanaḥ)

• yam: which/whom
• yam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• uvāca: told/said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• jagannāthaḥ: Lord of the Universe
• jagannāthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagannātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yoganidrāvimocitaḥ: released from Yoga-sleep
• yoganidrāvimocitaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yoganidrāvimocita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Markandeya
• Jagannatha (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It frames the next teaching as “parama guhyam”—a highest, esoteric revelation—delivered by Jagannātha (Vishnu) to the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, emphasizing the sanctity and authority of the forthcoming instruction.

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

By presenting Vishnu (Jagannātha) as the direct source of liberating knowledge revealed to a great devotee-sage, it signals that divine grace and attentive listening (śṛṇu) are central supports of bhakti-based transmission.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the śravaṇa principle—disciplined listening to an authorized guru-paramparā narration before applying any ritual or doctrinal detail.