Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

जगत्येकार्णवीभूते नष्टे स्थावरंजगमे । सर्वग्रस्तेन हरिणा किमर्थं सोऽवशेषितः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

jagatyekārṇavībhūte naṣṭe sthāvaraṃjagame | sarvagrastena hariṇā kimarthaṃ so'vaśeṣitaḥ || 48 ||

Translation

যখন জগৎ একমাত্র মহাসমুদ্রে পরিণত হল এবং স্থাবর-জঙ্গম সকল নষ্ট হল, তখন সর্বগ্রাসী হরি কেন তাঁকেই অবশিষ্ট রাখলেন?

Word by Word

• jagati: In the world
• jagati: Bhavalakshana (Condition/भावलक्षण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ekārṇavībhūte: Having become a single ocean
• ekārṇavībhūte: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekārṇavībhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (Chvi formation derivative)

• naṣṭe: When destroyed
• naṣṭe: Bhavalakshana (Condition/भावलक्षण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naś (णश अदर्शने)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Locative, Singular

• sthāvaraṃjagame: Moving and unmoving (creation)
• sthāvaraṃjagame: Bhavalakshana (Condition/भावलक्षण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāvaraṃjagama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sarvagrastena: By the all-devouring
• sarvagrastena: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvagrasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• hariṇā: By Hari
• hariṇā: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kimarthaṃ: Why/For what purpose
• kimarthaṃ: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kimartha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• saḥ: He (Markandeya)
• saḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• avaśeṣitaḥ: Left remaining/Spared
• avaśeṣitaḥ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-śiṣ (शिष असर्वोपयोगे)
• Form: Causal Past Passive Participle (Nich + Kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights Vishnu (Hari) as the cosmic regulator of pralaya (dissolution) and suggests that any being spared during total dissolution is preserved for a deliberate divine purpose tied to the next cycle of creation.

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

By portraying Hari as the ultimate power over existence and dissolution, the verse encourages reliance on Vishnu as the supreme refuge—an essential bhakti insight: the Lord alone determines protection and continuity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys Puranic cosmology (pralaya/ekārṇava). Indirectly, it supports the Purana-based framework used alongside Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) for understanding cyclic time (yugas and cosmic dissolutions).