Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

प्रथमः प्रथमे मार्गे प्रवहो नाम सोऽनिलः । अंबरे स्नेहमात्रेभ्यस्तडिद्भ्यश्चोत्तमद्युतिः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

prathamaḥ prathame mārge pravaho nāma so'nilaḥ | aṃbare snehamātrebhyastaḍidbhyaścottamadyutiḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Dans le premier cours du mouvement, le premier vent est appelé Pravaha. Dans le ciel, il engendre l’éclat le plus sublime, né de la simple humidité et de l’éclair.

Word by Word

• प्रथमः: the first
• प्रथमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (the first)

• प्रथमे: in the first
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मार्गे: path/route
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्रवहः: Pravaha (name)
• प्रवहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निर्देश (by name)

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनिलः: wind
• अनिलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्नेहमात्रेभ्यः: from mere moisture (droplets)
• स्नेहमात्रेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह+मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थ (mere moisture/droplets)

• तडिद्भ्यः: from lightnings
• तडिद्भ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• उत्तमद्युतिः: excellent radiance/splendour
• उत्तमद्युतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम+द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (excellent radiance)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pravaha (Vayu)

FAQs

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

It frames natural forces (like wind, moisture, and lightning) as ordered cosmic functions, encouraging contemplation of how the visible world operates through subtle principles—supporting detachment and insight in Moksha-dharma.

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

Indirectly: by presenting the cosmos as structured and intelligible, it supports devotional reverence for the divine order behind nature—an attitude that strengthens Vishnu-bhakti through wonder and gratitude, even though the verse itself is primarily cosmological.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns most with Jyotiṣa-style observation of atmospheric light (lightning, radiance) and seasonal/cloud phenomena, useful for understanding natural signs—though it is not a direct rule of ritual or grammar.