Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

नेत्रं च रसनांघ्राणं वाचं पाणिं पदेंद्रियम् । पायुं शिश्नमथाकाशं वायुं वह्निं जलं महीम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

netraṃ ca rasanāṃghrāṇaṃ vācaṃ pāṇiṃ padeṃdriyam | pāyuṃ śiśnamathākāśaṃ vāyuṃ vahniṃ jalaṃ mahīm || 13 ||

Translation

Das Auge; Zunge und Nase; die Rede (vāc); die Hand; der Fuß als Handlungsorgan; der After; das Zeugungsorgan; sodann Raum, Wind, Feuer, Wasser und Erde—dies alles wird aufgezählt.

Word by Word

• नेत्रम्: eye
• नेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रसना-अङ्घ्राणम्: tongue and nose
• रसना-अङ्घ्राणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसना (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (copulative)

• वाचम्: speech
• वाचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाणिम्: hand
• पाणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पद-इन्द्रियम्: the foot-organ (organ of locomotion)
• पद-इन्द्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (determinative)

• पायुम्: anus
• पायुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिश्नम्: penis
• शिश्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; sequence)

• आकाशम्: ether/space
• आकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वायुम्: air/wind
• वायुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महीम्: earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It enumerates the senses, organs of action, and the five great elements, pointing to tattva-jnana—knowing the constituents of embodied life as a basis for self-control and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By identifying the sense-organs and elements that bind attention outward, it implicitly supports bhakti-sadhana: restraining and redirecting the senses so they become instruments for hearing, chanting, and remembering the Divine rather than sources of distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This is a technical enumeration useful for śāstric study—especially in disciplines that rely on precise categorization (e.g., nirukta/semantic clarity and śikṣā/recitational discipline), aiding correct understanding of bodily and elemental terms used in ritual and philosophy.