Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

आपोमयमिदं सर्वमापोमूर्तिः शरीरिणाम् । तत्रात्मा मानसो ब्रह्मा सर्वभूतेषु लोककृत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

āpomayamidaṃ sarvamāpomūrtiḥ śarīriṇām | tatrātmā mānaso brahmā sarvabhūteṣu lokakṛt || 41 ||

Translation

Alles dies ist vom Wasser durchdrungen; auch die verkörperten Wesen sind Gestalten, aus Wasser gebildet. In dieser wässrigen Beschaffenheit ist das Selbst der geistgeborene Brahmā—in allen Wesen gegenwärtig als Stifter der Weltordnung.

Word by Word

• āpomayam: made of water
• āpomayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpa-maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (āpaḥ + maya 'made of water'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण (qualifies idam/sarvam)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); समष्टिवाचक (collective)

• āpomūrtiḥ: water-form (embodiment of water)
• āpomūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpa-mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (āpaḥ + mūrti 'form'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• śarīriṇām: of embodied beings
• śarīriṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• tatra: therein
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb 'there/in that')

• ātmā: the Self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• mānasaḥ: mental, of the mind
• mānasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); विशेषण (qualifies ātmā/brahmā: 'mental')

• brahmā: Brahmā / the Creator
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• sarvabhūteṣu: in all beings
• sarvabhūteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (sarveṣu bhūteṣu = 'in all beings'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Locative, Plural)

• lokakṛt: creator of the worlds
• lokakṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka-kṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (lokān karoti = 'world-maker'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Atman

FAQs

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

It redirects attention from the gross, elemental body (here emphasized as water-constituted) to the indwelling Ātman, described as the inner creative intelligence present in all beings—supporting a mokṣa-oriented vision of identity beyond the body.

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

By showing the body as elemental and transient while the indwelling Self is the true inner governor, it supports bhakti as devotion to the indwelling divine reality rather than attachment to bodily identity—encouraging surrender to the inner Lord who orders the world.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it aligns with Vedic cosmology and sāṃkhya-like elemental analysis (bhūta-vicāra). It is not a technical Vedāṅga rule, but it trains discernment used in dharma and mokṣa teachings: distinguishing the elemental body from the Self.