Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

ऽ । ब्रह्मादयोऽपि याञ्ज्ञात्वा समर्थाः स्युर्जगत्कृतौ ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

' | brahmādayo'pi yāñjñātvā samarthāḥ syurjagatkṛtau || 2 ||

Translation

Même Brahmā et les autres êtres cosmiques, ce n’est qu’après avoir connu cela qu’ils deviennent capables d’accomplir la création de l’univers.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मादयः = ब्रह्मा-आदयः)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: 'also/even')

• यान्: whom/which (those)
• यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: ज्ञा (to know)

• समर्थाः: capable
• समर्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• स्युः: would be / may be
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); धातु: अस् (to be)

• जगत्कृतौ: in the creation of the world
• जगत्कृतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जगत्कृतिः = जगतः कृतिः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada, within the Vedanga/technical instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even the highest creator-deity functions effectively only through right knowledge—suggesting that jñāna (true understanding of the governing principle) is foundational to all cosmic and spiritual accomplishment.

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

By implying that divine activity depends on knowing the supreme principle, it indirectly supports Bhakti: devotion becomes steady and effective when grounded in correct understanding of the Lord’s nature and order (tattva-jñāna).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the Vedanga spirit: technical, accurate knowledge as a prerequisite for successful action—mirroring how disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Jyotiṣa enable correct mantra-usage, timing, and ritual competence.