Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

यत्राधिकृत्य शकुनीन्सर्वधर्मनिरूपणम् । मार्कंडेयपुराणं तन्नवसाहस्रमीरितम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yatrādhikṛtya śakunīnsarvadharmanirūpaṇam | mārkaṃḍeyapurāṇaṃ tannavasāhasramīritam || 2 ||

Translation

جس میں پرندوں کو موضوع بنا کر تمام دھرموں کی توضیح کی گئی ہے، وہی ‘مارکنڈیہ پُران’ کہلاتا ہے؛ کہا جاتا ہے کہ اس میں نو ہزار شلوک ہیں۔

Word by Word

• yatra: where/wherein
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (देश/प्रकरण-सूचक)

• adhikṛtya: having taken up (as subject)
• adhikṛtya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi+kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having taken as the topic’

• śakunīn: birds (śakunīs)
• śakunīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakuni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarva-dharma-nirūpaṇam: the exposition of all dharmas
• sarva-dharma-nirūpaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + nirūpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); विषयवाचकं नाम

• mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇam: the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
• mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nava-sāhasram: consisting of nine thousand
• nava-sāhasram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (नवसहस्र-संख्याकम्)

• īritam: is declared/said
• īritam: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• Markandeya Purana

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (catalogue) statement: it identifies the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa by its core narrative frame (birds) and by its dharma-focused teaching, guiding readers toward the right scripture for dharma-śāstra style inquiry.

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

Direct bhakti instruction is not the focus here; instead, the verse classifies a Purāṇa whose purpose is dharma-nirūpaṇa. In the Narada Purana’s framework, correct dharma supports purified conduct, which becomes a foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This verse primarily reflects śāstra-indexing (anukramaṇikā method)—a technical, systematic way of organizing sacred literature by topic and extent, rather than teaching a specific Vedāṅga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.