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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

एवमंतं भगवतः प्रमाणं सलिलस्य च । अग्निमारुततोयेभ्यो दुर्ज्ञेयं दैवतैरपि ॥ ३१ ॥

evamaṃtaṃ bhagavataḥ pramāṇaṃ salilasya ca | agnimārutatoyebhyo durjñeyaṃ daivatairapi || 31 ||

Ainsi, la mesure et la limite véritables du Bhagavān —et aussi des eaux cosmiques— ne peuvent être pleinement connues, même par les dieux, bien qu’ils soient liés au feu, au vent et à l’eau.

एवम्thus
एवम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)
अन्तम्end/limit
अन्तम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन
भगवतःof the Lord
भगवतः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
प्रमाणम्measure, extent
प्रमाणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
सलिलस्यof water
सलिलस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootसलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (and)
अग्नि-मारुत-तोयेभ्यःfrom fire, wind, and water
अग्नि-मारुत-तोयेभ्यः:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वन्द्व-समास (अग्निश्च मारुतश्च तोयं च); पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), बहुवचन (समाहार/इतरेतर-भाव; here ablative plural)
दुर्ज्ञेयम्hard to know
दुर्ज्ञेयम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्ज्ञेय (कृदन्त, √ज्ञा धातु)
Formतव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be known'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
दैवतैःby the deities
दैवतैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootदैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (even)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

B
Bhagavan
A
Agni
V
Vayu (Marut)
D
Devas

FAQs

It emphasizes that Bhagavan and the cosmic principle symbolized by the primordial waters are beyond finite measurement; even divine powers cannot fully grasp the Supreme, pointing the seeker toward liberation through higher realization rather than mere cosmic or elemental authority.

By stating that even the devas cannot know the Lord’s full extent, the verse implicitly elevates surrender and devotion to Bhagavan over reliance on power or status; Bhakti approaches the immeasurable Lord through grace, not through limited elemental or celestial knowledge.

The verse highlights the limitation of pramāṇa (means/measure of knowing), a key epistemic concern relevant to disciplined study (including Vyākaraṇa and other Vedāṅga-based learning), reminding that technical knowledge alone cannot exhaust the Supreme’s nature.