Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

कर्णिका तस्य पद्मस्य मेरुर्गगनमुच्छ्रितः । तस्य मध्ये स्थितो लोकान्सृजत्येष जगद्विधिः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

karṇikā tasya padmasya merurgaganamucchritaḥ | tasya madhye sthito lokānsṛjatyeṣa jagadvidhiḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Le cœur (karṇikā) de ce lotus est le mont Meru, dressé jusqu’au ciel. En son centre même, assis là, l’Ordonnateur de l’univers, Brahmā, crée les mondes.

Word by Word

• कर्णिका: the pericarp (of a lotus)
• कर्णिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्य: of that/of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पद्मस्य: of the lotus
• पद्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मेरुः: Meru (mountain)
• मेरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गगनम्: the sky
• गगनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उच्छ्रितः: risen/lofty
• उच्छ्रितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मेरुः)

• तस्य: of that/of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग (in the middle)

• स्थितः: standing/located
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सृजति: creates
• सृजति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जगत्-विधिः: the ordainer/creator of the world
• जगत्-विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः विधिः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents creation as an ordered, sacred structure—Meru as the cosmic axis and Brahmā as the appointed cosmic administrator—encouraging the seeker to see the universe as governed by dharma and higher intelligence rather than randomness.

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

By depicting Brahmā as the ‘jagad-vidhi’ who creates within a divinely arranged cosmos, the verse indirectly supports bhakti: devotion is grounded in trust that the universe operates under a supreme order, ultimately leading the devotee toward surrender to the Highest Lord beyond the creator.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily cosmological orientation used in Purāṇic teaching; it connects to Jyotiṣa-style sacred geography (axis/center concept via Meru) as a framework for understanding loka-structure, though no direct ritual rule is stated in this verse.