Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

मृकण्डुरूवाच । देवदेव जगन्नाथ कृतार्थोऽस्मि न संशयः । त्वद्दर्शनमपुण्यानां दुर्लभं च यतः स्मृतम् ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

mṛkaṇḍurūvāca | devadeva jagannātha kṛtārtho'smi na saṃśayaḥ | tvaddarśanamapuṇyānāṃ durlabhaṃ ca yataḥ smṛtam || 91 ||

Translation

摩利迦ṇḍu说道：“诸神之神、宇宙之主啊，我已圆满无疑。因为传说记载：对福德不足者而言，得见圣颜实为难得。”

Word by Word

• mṛkaṇḍuḥ: Mrikandu
• mṛkaṇḍuḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛkaṇḍu (मृकण्डु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• devadeva: O God of gods
• devadeva: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devadeva (देवदेव)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• jagannātha: O Lord of the universe
• jagannātha: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagannātha (जगन्नाथ)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• kṛtārthaḥ: fulfilled/successful
• kṛtārthaḥ: Visheshana (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtārtha (कृतार्थ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, Uttama Purusha, Singular

• na: no
• na: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Negative Particle

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (Subject of implied 'asti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (संशय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tvaddarśanam: sight of you
• tvaddarśanam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvaddarśana (त्वद्दर्शन)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• apuṇyānām: of the unmeritorious
• apuṇyānām: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apuṇya (अपुण्य)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural (Nang-Tatpurusha)

• durlabham: difficult to obtain
• durlabham: Visheshana (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (दुर्लभ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• yataḥ: since/because
• yataḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (यतस्)
• Form: Adverb

• smṛtam: is declared/remembered
• smṛtam: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛta (स्मृत)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular (Past Passive Participle)

Speaker

Mṛkaṇḍu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jagannātha (Lord of the Universe)
• Devadeva (Supreme Deity)

FAQs

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

The verse frames divine darśana as the culmination of spiritual striving: true fulfillment arises from encountering the Lord, and such vision is linked to accumulated merit (puṇya) and divine grace.

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

By expressing gratitude and awe after receiving darśana, the speaker models bhakti as heartfelt surrender and praise, emphasizing that closeness to the Lord is not merely intellectual but a grace-filled encounter.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual: cultivate puṇya through dharma and devotional practices so that divine darśana becomes attainable.