Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

अद्रवत्वादनग्नित्वादभूमित्वादवायुतः । आकाशस्याप्रमेयत्वाद्वृक्षाणां नास्ति भौतिकम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

adravatvādanagnitvādabhūmitvādavāyutaḥ | ākāśasyāprameyatvādvṛkṣāṇāṃ nāsti bhautikam || 66 ||

Translation

（樹は）液でもなく、火でもなく、地でもなく、風でもなく、また虚空は量り知れぬゆえ、究竟において樹木には純粋に物質的（五大のみ）の実在を最終原理として立てることはできない。

Word by Word

• अद्रवत्वात्: because of non-fluidity
• अद्रवत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-द्रवत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘-त्व’ भाववाचक

• अनग्नित्वात्: because of absence of fire
• अनग्नित्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-अग्नित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अभूमित्वात्: because of absence of earth(-element)
• अभूमित्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-भूमित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अवायुतः: because of absence of air
• अवायुतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध (from absence of air)

• आकाशस्य: of ether/space
• आकाशस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अप्रमेयत्वात्: because of being immeasurable/imperceptible
• अप्रमेयत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रमेयत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘प्रमेय’ (measurable/knowable) + -त्व

• वृक्षाणाम्: of trees
• वृक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भौतिकम्: material (made of elements)
• भौतिकम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भौतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (predicate nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Akasha

FAQs

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

It points to the inadequacy of reducing living forms to the gross elements alone, steering the seeker toward subtler causation and ultimately toward liberation-oriented discernment (viveka) rather than attachment to appearances.

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

By weakening fixation on material form as the final truth, it supports bhakti as inward surrender to the transcendent Lord beyond the elements—devotion grounded in seeing the world as dependent, not ultimate.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with tattva-vicāra used in moksha teachings: careful categorization and negation (neti-neti style reasoning) akin to disciplined analytical method, though not a direct ritual or grammar instruction.