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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

प्रकृतिश्चपुमांश्चैव कालश्चेति विधिस्थितिः । सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशानामेकः कारणतां गतः ॥ १७ ॥

prakṛtiścapumāṃścaiva kālaśceti vidhisthitiḥ | sṛṣṭisthitivināśānāmekaḥ kāraṇatāṃ gataḥ || 17 ||

Prakṛti, Puruṣa, dan Waktu—demikianlah tatanan yang ditetapkan. Dalam penciptaan, pemeliharaan, dan peleburan, Yang Esa menjadi landasan sebab yang tunggal.

प्रकृतिःPrakṛti
प्रकृतिः:
Karta (कर्ता) — समुच्चित-विषय
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; conjunction
पुमान्Puruṣa (the person/spirit)
पुमान्:
Karta (कर्ता) — समुच्चित-विषय
TypeNoun
Rootपुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; conjunction
एवindeed/just
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)
कालःTime
कालः:
Karta (कर्ता) — समुच्चित-विषय
TypeNoun
Rootकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; conjunction
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; quotative/iti-marker
विधिस्थितिःthe ordained arrangement
विधिस्थितिः:
Karta (कर्ता) / Vishaya (विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootविधि + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विधेः स्थितिः = the established rule/arrangement)
सृष्टिof creation
सृष्टि:
Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootसृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (समासाङ्ग)
स्थितिof maintenance
स्थिति:
Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootस्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (समासाङ्ग)
विनाशानाम्of destructions
विनाशानाम्:
Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootविनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन
एकःone
एकः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण
कारणताम्the state of being a cause
कारणताम्:
Karma (कर्म) — ‘गतः’ इत्यस्य
TypeNoun
Rootकारणता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
गतःhas attained
गतः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु) + क्त-प्रत्यय (कृदन्त: गत)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) — ‘gone/attained’

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

P
Prakriti
P
Purusha
K
Kala

FAQs

It points to a unified vision: although Prakṛti, Puruṣa, and Time are spoken of, the Purāṇa emphasizes that ultimately one Supreme principle stands behind all cosmic functions—creation, maintenance, and dissolution—guiding the seeker toward non-dual clarity and liberation.

By establishing a single ultimate cause behind all change, the verse supports one-pointed devotion: the devotee can surrender to the One Lord as the controller of Prakṛti and Time, rather than being psychologically scattered among many competing powers.

The verse aligns with Vedic cosmological reasoning used in Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) through the principle of Kāla (Time) as a governing factor; it frames time as an ordered power within a higher, single causality.