Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

पुराणं पुरुषं सिद्धं सर्वज्ञानैकभाजनम् । परात्परतरं रूपं प्रणतोऽस्मि जनार्दनम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇaṃ puruṣaṃ siddhaṃ sarvajñānaikabhājanam | parātparataraṃ rūpaṃ praṇato'smi janārdanam || 39 ||

Translation

Con cúi lạy Janārdana—Đấng Purusha Tối Thượng vĩnh cửu, viên mãn; chính là Purāṇa, là nơi dung chứa duy nhất của mọi tri thức; sắc thân Ngài siêu việt cả cái “siêu việt”, vượt trên bậc tối thượng.

Word by Word

• purāṇam: Ancient
• purāṇam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• puruṣam: Person/Being
• puruṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• siddham: Perfected/Accomplished
• siddham: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sidh (धातु) -> siddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; PPP (Past Passive Participle)

• sarvajñānaikabhājanam: The sole vessel of all knowledge
• sarvajñānaikabhājanam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + jñāna + eka + bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• parāt: From the supreme/high
• parāt: Apadana (Ablative Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• parataram: Higher/Superior
• parataram: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Comparative

• rūpam: Form/Nature
• rūpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• praṇataḥ: Bowed/Surrendered
• praṇataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + nam (धातु) -> praṇata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP (Past Passive Participle)

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Uttama Purusha (1st Person), Ekavachana (Singular)

• janārdanam: Janardana (Vishnu/Tormentor of wicked men)
• janārdanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Vishnu (Janārdana) as the perfected Supreme Person who embodies the timeless Purāṇic truth and contains all knowledge; surrender to Him is presented as the direct spiritual orientation toward moksha.

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

Bhakti is expressed through praṇāma (humble surrender): the devotee recognizes Janārdana as the highest reality (parāt-paratara) and responds with reverent bowing, placing God—not mere scholarship—at the center of spiritual life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No single Vedāṅga technique (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the verse instead frames all śāstric learning as ultimately rooted in and fulfilled by the Lord, the ‘one repository of all knowledge’ (sarva-jñānaika-bhājana).