अवन्तीविषये पूर्वं ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । चंद्रशर्मेति विख्यातः शिवभक्तः सदा नृप
avantīviṣaye pūrvaṃ brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ | caṃdraśarmeti vikhyātaḥ śivabhaktaḥ sadā nṛpa
Thuở trước, tại xứ Avantī có một vị brāhmaṇa tinh thông Veda, nổi danh là Candraśarman—luôn là người sùng kính Śiva, hỡi Đại vương.
Mārkaṇḍeya
Tirtha: Avantī (Ujjayinī)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Rājā (king; unspecified)
Scene: A learned brāhmaṇa in Avanti—Candraśarman—depicted with Vedic manuscripts, sacred thread, and Śiva devotion marks (tripuṇḍra), living a disciplined life.
Purāṇas frame ideal character through learning and devotion: Vedic mastery joined with steadfast Śiva-bhakti.
Avantī is referenced as the narrative origin-point; the broader Māhātmya context continues to point toward Dvārakā’s sacred greatness.
No explicit rite is prescribed; the verse establishes the protagonist’s religious identity (Vedic and Śaiva devotion).