Shloka 45

Description of the Origin of the Cosmic Egg (Brahmāṇḍa) and the Ocean as King of Tīrthas

Devanagari script

देवि सर्वेऽवतारास्तु ब्रह्मणः कृष्णरूपिणः । अवतारी स्वयं कृष्णः सगुणो निर्गुणः स्वयम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

devi sarve'vatārāstu brahmaṇaḥ kṛṣṇarūpiṇaḥ | avatārī svayaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ saguṇo nirguṇaḥ svayam || 45 ||

Translation

O Göttin, alle Avatāras sind Erscheinungen Brahmans in der Gestalt Kṛṣṇas; doch der Avatārī, die Quelle aller Avatāras, ist Kṛṣṇa selbst—Er allein ist sowohl saguṇa als auch nirguṇa.

Word by Word

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• avatārāḥ: incarnations
• avatārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-rūpiṇaḥ: having the form of Krishna
• kṛṣṇa-rūpiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘कृष्णरूपं येषाम्’)

• avatārī: the source of incarnations (the incarnator)
• avatārī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्वार्थक-निपात (reflexive/emphatic)

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Krishna
• kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sa-guṇaḥ: with attributes
• sa-guṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्गार्थ/सह) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘सगुणः’ = गुणैः सह)

• nir-guṇaḥ: without attributes
• nir-guṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘निर्गुणः’ = गुणरहितः)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्वार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressing Devi in the cited verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Brahman
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It identifies Kṛṣṇa as the avatārī (the ultimate source of all incarnations) and equates Him with Brahman, reconciling personal devotion with the highest non-dual Absolute.

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

By declaring Kṛṣṇa to be both the manifest Lord (saguṇa) and the transcendent Absolute (nirguṇa), it legitimizes bhakti as a complete path—worship of Kṛṣṇa reaches the highest Brahman.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly; the verse instead provides tattva (doctrinal clarity) that guides mantra-upāsanā and pūjā by establishing the proper deity-identity of Kṛṣṇa as Brahman.