Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

आकाशमिति विख्यातं सर्वभूतधरः प्रभुः । आकाशादभवद्वारि सलिलादग्निमारुतौ ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

ākāśamiti vikhyātaṃ sarvabhūtadharaḥ prabhuḥ | ākāśādabhavadvāri salilādagnimārutau || 16 ||

Translation

Er, der Herr, der alle Wesen trägt, ist als Ākāśa (Äther) bekannt. Aus dem Äther entstand Wasser; und aus dem Wasser entstanden Feuer und Wind.

Word by Word

• आकाशम्: ākāśa/space
• आकाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; naming)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम-निर्देश (as the name)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-निपात (quotative)

• विख्यातम्: is known (as)
• विख्यातम्: Kriya-samartha (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र ‘आकाशम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय (predicate)

• सर्व-भूत-धरः: supporter of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-धरः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सर्वेषां भूतानां धरः’ = supporter of all beings

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आकाशात्: from space
• आकाशात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• अभवत्: arose/came to be
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वारि: water
• वारि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सलिलात्: from water
• सलिलात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अग्नि-मारुतौ: fire and wind
• अग्नि-मारुतौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative): fire and wind

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames the elements as emanations supported by the Supreme Lord, guiding the seeker to see the cosmos as dependent on the divine rather than independent—an outlook that supports detachment and moksha-oriented discernment.

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

By identifying the Lord as the very ground of all beings and the source behind elemental manifestation, it encourages bhakti as reverence toward the immanent and transcendent Lord who pervades creation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily tattva/cosmology rather than a Vedanga instruction; practically, it supports dhyāna and philosophical reflection used alongside Vedic disciplines (e.g., mantra and ritual) to cultivate right understanding.