Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam

The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya

Devanagari script

व्याकुर्वते पुराणानि तानि शृण्वन्ति ये तथा । तद्वक्तरि च भक्ता ये ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

vyākurvate purāṇāni tāni śṛṇvanti ye tathā | tadvaktari ca bhaktā ye te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 59 ||

Translation

凡宣讲诸《普拉那》(Purāṇa)者，凡恭敬聆听者，以及对宣说此法之师怀抱虔敬者——此等人确为至上之婆伽梵信徒（Bhāgavata-uttama），为奉事 Bhagavān 的最胜者。

Word by Word

• व्याकुर्वते: they expound / explain
• व्याकुर्वते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• पुराणानि: the Purāṇas
• पुराणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• तानि: those (them)
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• शृण्वन्ति: they listen
• शृण्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तत्-वक्तरि: in/with regard to that speaker
• तत्-वक्तरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of that' + 'speaker'), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक (emphatic particle)

• भागवत-उत्तमाः: the best devotees (Bhāgavatas)
• भागवत-उत्तमाः: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधाननाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'excellent Bhāgavatas'), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue context of Book 1.1)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Purana
• Bhagavan

FAQs

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

It elevates Purāṇa teaching and hearing to a primary act of devotion, declaring that the teacher, the listener, and the respectful supporter of the teacher are counted among the highest Bhāgavatas.

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

Bhakti is shown as lived participation in sacred transmission—śravaṇa (hearing), pravacana (expounding), and guru-bhakti (devotion to the speaker/teacher) together form a complete devotional culture.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the practical discipline of śravaṇa and pravacana (systematic listening and teaching), which relies on clear exposition—supported by Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and Nirukta (meaning/etymology) for accurate understanding of Purāṇic Sanskrit.