Shloka 47

Description of the Origin of the Cosmic Egg (Brahmāṇḍa) and the Ocean as King of Tīrthas

Devanagari script

गावस्तेजोंऽशवो भद्रे वेदविद्भिर्निरूपिताः । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाद्यास्तु प्राकृता गुणनिर्मिताः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

gāvastejoṃ'śavo bhadre vedavidbhirnirūpitāḥ | brahmaviṣṇuśivādyāstu prākṛtā guṇanirmitāḥ || 47 ||

Translation

Ô dame de bon augure, les sages connaisseurs du Veda ont proclamé que les vaches sont des parcelles de la radiance divine (tejas). Mais Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva et les autres dieux, dans leurs formes manifestées, sont des produits de la Prakṛti, façonnés par les guṇa.

Word by Word

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तेजः-अंशवः: rays/parts of radiance
• तेजः-अंशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘तेजसः अंशवः’

• भद्रे: O auspicious lady
• भद्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• वेदविद्भिः: by the knowers of the Veda
• वेदविद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• निरूपिताः: have been described/defined
• निरूपिताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-रूप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-आद्याः: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and others
• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार/इतरेतर) + ‘आदि’ (ending with ‘and others’)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• प्राकृताः: material/natural (of prakṛti)
• प्राकृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-आद्याः’)

• गुण-निर्मिताः: made of/by the guṇas
• गुण-निर्मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्मित (कृदन्त/PPP from निर्-मा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/करणार्थ: ‘गुणैः निर्मिताः’ (made by/with the guṇas)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; vocative addressed to a 'bhadre' interlocutor as per verse style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gau (Cow)
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Prakriti
• Trigunas

FAQs

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

It elevates the cow as a manifestation of tejas (divine radiance), grounding gau-protection and gau-sevā in metaphysical sanctity, while also clarifying that even exalted divine forms appear through Prakṛti’s guṇas in the manifested world.

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

By distinguishing pure divine radiance (tejas) from guṇa-conditioned manifestation, the verse nudges the devotee toward sattvic reverence—honoring sacred embodiments like the cow and worshipping Viṣṇu with awareness that worldly forms are seen through guṇas, while the Supreme is approached by devotion beyond them.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedic hermeneutics (nirūpaṇa—authoritative determination by vedavid-s) and sāṅkhya-style guṇa terminology; practically, it supports dharma-based conduct (sattva-oriented living) that underlies many Narada Purana rituals and purity rules in tirtha settings.