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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

ज्योतिः पश्यति रूपाणि रूपं च बहुधा स्मृतम् । ह्रस्वो दीर्धस्तथा स्थूलश्चतुरस्रोऽणुवृत्तवान् ॥ ८७ ॥

jyotiḥ paśyati rūpāṇi rūpaṃ ca bahudhā smṛtam | hrasvo dīrdhastathā sthūlaścaturasro'ṇuvṛttavān || 87 ||

La Lumière (jyotis) perçoit les formes ; et la « forme » est tenue pour multiple : courte ou longue, épaisse, carrée, infime ou circulaire.

ज्योतिःlight (fire principle)
ज्योतिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
पश्यतिsees
पश्यति:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपश् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
रूपाणिforms/colors
रूपाणि:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
रूपम्form/color
रूपम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (conjunction)
बहुधाin many ways
बहुधा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootबहुधा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb: in many ways)
स्मृतम्is stated
स्मृतम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (is said/considered)
ह्रस्वःshort
ह्रस्वः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूपस्य विशेषण (short)
दीर्घःlong
दीर्घः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूपस्य विशेषण (long)
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb/conjunction: likewise)
स्थूलःthick/gross
स्थूलः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रूपस्य विशेषण (thick/gross)
चतुरस्रःfour-sided/square
चतुरस्रः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootचतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अस्र/अश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु (चत्वारः अस्राः यस्य = four-sided)
अणु-वृत्तवान्having minute roundness; very small and circular
अणु-वृत्तवान्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअणु (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित) → वृत्तवत्; समास: अणुवृत्तवत्
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अणुश्च वृत्तश्च इव/अणुवृत्तः, तद्वान्)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It distinguishes the perceiving principle (jyotis—inner light/consciousness) from the perceived variety of forms, encouraging viveka (discernment) that supports liberation-oriented understanding.

By showing that forms are many and variable while the perceiver is a single luminous principle, it supports steady devotion: the mind learns to look past changing appearances and anchor itself in the one Reality that devotion seeks.

It most closely echoes Nyaya–Vaisheshika style categories of form (shape/size such as short-long, gross-subtle, square-round), useful for disciplined observation and clear thinking—supporting jnana practices rather than ritual procedure.