Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58
Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā
भरद्वाज उवाच । य एते धातवः पंच रक्ष्या यानसृजत्प्रभुः । आवृता यैरिमे लोका महाभूताभिसंज्ञितैः ॥ ५८ ॥
bharadvāja uvāca | ya ete dhātavaḥ paṃca rakṣyā yānasṛjatprabhuḥ | āvṛtā yairime lokā mahābhūtābhisaṃjñitaiḥ || 58 ||
Bharadvāja sprach: „Welche sind jene fünf Elemente, die der Herr hervorgebracht hat und die zu bewahren sind—jene ‘Mahābhūtas’, die großen Prinzipien, durch die all diese Welten durchdrungen und umhüllt sind?“
Bharadvāja
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames a tattva-inquiry: understanding the five mahābhūtas that pervade all worlds is presented as foundational knowledge for mokṣa-oriented discernment (viveka) between the material constituents and the Lord who creates them.
By distinguishing the created elements from the Creator (Prabhu), the verse supports bhakti’s theistic focus: devotion is directed to the Lord beyond the mahābhūtas, while the elements are understood as His manifested order.
The verse is more philosophical than technical; it mainly supports clear definition (nirvacana) of categories—useful for disciplined study and teaching—rather than a specific Vedāṅga practice like ritual procedure or astrology.