Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

यदेकादशमाधारं बीजं कोणत्रयोद्भवम् । ब्रह्यांडादिकटाहांतं जगदद्यापि दृश्यते ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

yadekādaśamādhāraṃ bījaṃ koṇatrayodbhavam | brahyāṃḍādikaṭāhāṃtaṃ jagadadyāpi dṛśyate || 15 ||

Translation

Aujourd’hui encore, l’univers se voit comme ce principe-graine : reposant sur onze appuis, né du triangle aux trois angles, et s’étendant jusqu’au rebord de l’œuf cosmique, chaudron primordial de la création.

Word by Word

• yat: that which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun

• ekādaśama-ādhāram: having the eleventh as its support
• ekādaśama-ādhāram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśama (प्रातिपदिक) + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘having the eleventh as support / based on the eleventh’ (qualifier of bījam)

• bījam: seed (mystic seed-syllable)
• bījam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• koṇa-traya-udbhavam: arisen from the tri-angle
• koṇa-traya-udbhavam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘arising from three angles/corners’

• brahma-aṇḍa-ādi-kaṭāha-antam: bounded by the cosmic egg etc.
• brahma-aṇḍa-ādi-kaṭāha-antam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + kaṭāha (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; qualifier of jagat

• jagat: the world/universe
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• api: even/still
• api: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) अर्थ: ‘also/even/still’

• dṛśyate: is seen / appears
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग) ‘is seen/appears’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse presented as technical-cosmological description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanda (cosmic egg)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as a visible expression of a subtle causal “seed” (bīja) governed by ordered supports (ādhāras) and sacred geometry (triangular triad), emphasizing that creation is structured, intelligible, and rooted in a higher principle.

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

By presenting the universe as an ordered manifestation of a single causal source, it supports Bhakti’s contemplative stance: the devotee reveres the divine intelligence behind cosmic form, using such cosmological insight to deepen remembrance and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects technical doctrine used in mantra/yantra frameworks—bīja (seed-syllable principle), ādhāra (support/locus), and trikona (triangle) symbolism—concepts often applied in ritual visualization and structured recitation practices.