Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali

Devanagari script

सुरासुरविनिर्मुक्तबाणनिष्पेषजानले । अकालप्रलयं मेने निरीक्ष्य सकलं जगत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

surāsuravinirmuktabāṇaniṣpeṣajānale | akālapralayaṃ mene nirīkṣya sakalaṃ jagat || 18 ||

Translation

Seeing the entire world ablaze with the fire kindled by the impact and crushing of the arrows discharged by the Devas and the Asuras, he thought that an untimely pralaya—cosmic dissolution—had come.

Word by Word

• surāsura-vinirmukta-bāṇa-niṣpeṣa-jānale: in the fire born of the impact of arrows released by gods and demons
• surāsura-vinirmukta-bāṇa-niṣpeṣa-jānale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + vinirmukta (कृदन्त) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣpeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + jānala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः: (1) sura+asura = द्वन्द्व (internal) 'gods and demons'; (2) vinirmukta = √muc क्त (past passive participle) 'released'; (3) bāṇa-niṣpeṣa = 'crushing/impact of arrows'; (4) jānala = 'fire produced'; समस्तार्थः: 'in the fire produced by the crushing/impact of arrows released by gods and demons'

• akāla-pralayam: an untimely dissolution (cosmic destruction)
• akāla-pralayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akāla (प्रातिपदिक) + pralaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः ('untimely dissolution')

• mene: he thought/considered
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• nirīkṣya: having observed
• nirīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), 'having seen/after observing'

• sakalam: entire
• sakalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); jagat-विशेषण (qualifier of jagat)

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how overwhelming violence and chaos can resemble pralaya, reminding the listener that cosmic order is fragile at the level of perception and must be restored through dharma and divine governance rather than force.

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

By presenting fear and confusion before apparent destruction, the narrative sets a devotional context: when the world seems to collapse, refuge in the Lord (especially Vishnu in Narada Purana’s theology) becomes the stabilizing response beyond panic and speculation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The key concept is kāla (time) and akāla (untimely occurrence), which connects indirectly to Jyotiṣa-Vedāṅga: discerning proper time-cycles and cosmic periods, and recognizing that pralaya is governed by ordained temporal order.