Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

जीवमात्रं पुरा सृष्टं यदेतत्परिवर्तते । मृताः प्रणश्यंति बीजाद्बीजं प्रणश्यति ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

jīvamātraṃ purā sṛṣṭaṃ yadetatparivartate | mṛtāḥ praṇaśyaṃti bījādbījaṃ praṇaśyati || 15 ||

Translation

太初には、身を帯びた生きとし生けるもののみが創られ、この世の流転は絶えず巡り続ける。死せる者は滅び去り、種子もまた—種子を生じさせるとはいえ—ついには朽ちる。

Word by Word

• जीवमात्रम्: mere living being(s) / only life
• जीवमात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जीवस्य मात्रम्)

• पुरा: formerly, in the beginning
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थक

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ सर्वनाम

• परिवर्तते: changes, transforms
• परिवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मृताः: the dead (persons)
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (the dead ones)

• प्रणश्यन्ति: perish
• प्रणश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• बीजात्: from a seed
• बीजात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रणश्यति: perishes
• प्रणश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes samsara’s impermanence: bodies die, and even the generative “seed” is not permanent. The teaching pushes the seeker toward vairagya (detachment) and moksha rather than relying on worldly continuity.

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

By showing that lineage, body, and worldly survival are transient, it redirects the heart to the imperishable refuge—Bhagavan—so devotion becomes the stable anchor amid change.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it is primarily a Moksha-Dharma point used to cultivate discernment (viveka) and detachment.