Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

भूमी रसाक्ष्मास्वयुता पंचैकांतरिताः स्थिराः । तदंतरित बीजानि स्वसंयुक्तानि पंच वै ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

bhūmī rasākṣmāsvayutā paṃcaikāṃtaritāḥ sthirāḥ | tadaṃtarita bījāni svasaṃyuktāni paṃca vai || 68 ||

Translation

Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space—these five, firmly established, are set in an alternating order. And between them are five “seeds” (subtle causal factors), each conjoined with its own corresponding element.

Word by Word

• bhūmī: earth
• bhūmī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• rasa-akṣa-māsu-yutā: endowed with rasa, akṣa, and māsu (reading uncertain)
• rasa-akṣa-māsu-yutā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + māsu (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्; uncertain reading) + yutā (कृदन्त, √yuj)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'युक्ता' = endowed with; समासः—तत्पुरुष; पाठदोष/दुर्लभपद: 'māsu' likely for 'māṃsa'/'māsa'/'mā' etc. (uncertain)

• paṃca: five
• paṃca: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द (numeral, indeclinable-like); here qualifying a plural set

• eka-antaritāḥ: separated by one interval
• eka-antaritāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + antarita (कृदन्त, √tṝ/√antar?; 'intervened/separated')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'एकेन अन्तरिताः' = separated by one (interval)

• sthirāḥ: stable; fixed
• sthirāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• tad-antarita: separated by that (interval)
• tad-antarita: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक) + antarita (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (agreeing with bījāni); 'तेन अन्तरित' = separated by that

• bījāni: seeds
• bījāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• sva-saṃyuktāni: self-joined; mutually connected
• sva-saṃyuktāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त, √yuj with sam-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; 'स्वेन संयुक्तानि' = joined with their own (counterparts)

• paṃca: five
• paṃca: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्द (numeral) qualifying bījāni

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedāṅga/technical exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links the gross five elements to subtler causal ‘seeds’ (bīja), pointing to how creation is structured from subtle-to-gross—useful for contemplative discrimination (viveka) and technical śāstra-based understanding.

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

By mapping the cosmos as ordered and principle-governed, it supports bhakti with right knowledge: devotion is not blind, but harmonized with understanding of the Lord’s ordered manifestation as elements and their subtle causes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical cosmological classification used in śāstric reasoning (often paired with mantra-śāstra and ritual logic): distinguishing gross elements (mahābhūta) from subtle causal factors (bīja/tanmātra-like principles) for correct conceptual and ritual application.