Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45
Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā
भरद्वाज उवाच । कथं सलिलमुत्पन्नं कथं चैवाग्निमारुतौ । कथं वा मेदिनी सृष्टेत्यत्र मे संशयो महान् ॥ ४५ ॥
bharadvāja uvāca | kathaṃ salilamutpannaṃ kathaṃ caivāgnimārutau | kathaṃ vā medinī sṛṣṭetyatra me saṃśayo mahān || 45 ||
Bharadvāja sprach: „Wie ist das Wasser entstanden? Wie sind wahrlich Feuer und Wind ins Dasein gekommen? Und wie wurde die Erde erschaffen? Darüber hege ich großen Zweifel.“
Bharadvaja
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames a seeker’s inquiry into sṛṣṭi (creation) as a legitimate spiritual doubt, preparing the ground for teaching that true liberation (mokṣa) comes from understanding the principles (tattvas) behind the world’s origin.
This verse does not directly teach bhakti; it establishes humble questioning. In the Purāṇic method, such inquiry leads to hearing (śravaṇa) authoritative answers, which then matures into devotion toward the Supreme who governs creation.
No specific Vedāṅga (like vyākaraṇa, jyotiṣa, or kalpa) is taught in this verse; it is primarily a cosmological/tattva question that typically precedes systematic exposition.