Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

सगुणं निर्गुणं शान्तं मायाऽतीतं सुमायिनम् । अरूपं बहुरूपं तं प्रणतोऽस्मि जनार्दनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

saguṇaṃ nirguṇaṃ śāntaṃ māyā'tītaṃ sumāyinam | arūpaṃ bahurūpaṃ taṃ praṇato'smi janārdanam || 42 ||

Translation

我顶礼阇那尔达那：具德相而又超越德相；寂静安然；超越摩耶而为摩耶之主；无相而现多相。

Word by Word

• saguṇam: With attributes
• saguṇam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nirguṇam: Without attributes
• nirguṇam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śāntam: Peaceful/Calm
• śāntam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śam (धातु) -> śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; PPP

• māyātītam: Beyond Maya (Illusion)
• māyātītam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā + atīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sumāyinam: Possessing great Maya/The great illusionist
• sumāyinam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + māyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• arūpam: Formless
• arūpam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bahurūpam: Many-formed
• bahurūpam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tam: Him
• tam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• praṇataḥ: Bowed
• praṇataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + nam (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• janārdanam: Janardana
• 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: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It reconciles key Vedāntic truths with devotion: the Lord can be approached as both saguna (with form and qualities) and nirguna (transcendent), affirming that surrender to Janārdana leads beyond Māyā toward peace and liberation.

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

Bhakti is expressed through praṇāma (humble surrender) to Vishnu in whatever way the devotee can grasp Him—formless or many-formed—showing that devotion accommodates both philosophical contemplation and personal worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is mantra-style stuti useful for japa and pūjā, grounding worship in correct theological understanding (saguna–nirguna and Māyā doctrine).