Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ । तौ जातमात्रौ पयसि लोकप्रलयलक्षणे ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇukarṇamalodbhūtāvasurau madhukaiṭabhau | tau jātamātrau payasi lokapralayalakṣaṇe || 2 ||

Translation

De l’impureté (comme le cérumen) de l’oreille de Viṣṇu naquirent les deux asura, Madhu et Kaiṭabha ; et, à peine nés, ils se trouvaient dans les eaux, alors que le monde portait les marques du pralaya, la dissolution cosmique.

Word by Word

• viṣṇu-karṇa-mala-udbhūtau: arisen from the wax of Viṣṇu’s ear
• viṣṇu-karṇa-mala-udbhūtau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mala (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhūta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √bhū)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्—‘asurau’ इति; ‘विष्णोः कर्णमलात् उद्भूतौ’

• asurau: two demons
• asurau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• madhu-kaiṭabhau: Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• madhu-kaiṭabhau: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + kaiṭabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• jāta-mātrau: just born
• jāta-mātrau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √jan) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्—‘tau’ इति; ‘जातमात्रः’ = just born

• payasi: in the waters
• payasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• loka-pralaya-lakṣaṇe: characterized by cosmic dissolution
• loka-pralaya-lakṣaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pralaya (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘payasi’ इति; ‘लोकप्रलयस्य लक्षणम्’ (world-dissolution characterized)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhu
• Kaitabha

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic dissolution (pralaya) as the backdrop for divine order: even powerful disruptive forces (Madhu and Kaiṭabha) arise within Viṣṇu’s cosmic domain, implying that protection and restoration ultimately belong to Viṣṇu.

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

By locating the entire pralaya-cosmos narrative around Viṣṇu, the verse supports bhakti theology: the devotee anchors faith in Viṣṇu as the sustaining reality even when the world is dissolved into primordial waters.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Itihāsa–Purāṇa style cosmological instruction rather than a direct Vedāṅga rule; however, it reinforces Purāṇic cosmography (pralaya-lakṣaṇa) used in dharma/ritual calendars and traditional teaching frameworks.