Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

शब्दस्तु तामसाज्जज्ञे तस्मादाकाश एव च । आकाशादभवत्स्पर्शस्तस्माद्वायुरभूत्सति ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

śabdastu tāmasājjajñe tasmādākāśa eva ca | ākāśādabhavatsparśastasmādvāyurabhūtsati || 57 ||

Translation

ターマサ（惰性の優勢）なる相より音が生じ、そこからまことに虚空（ākāśa）が現れた。虚空より触が生じ、さらにその順序により風（vāyu）が成立した。

Word by Word

• śabdaḥ: sound
• śabdaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• tāmasāt: from tamas (darkness)
• tāmasāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); adjective used substantively: 'from tamas/that which is tāmasa'

• jajñe: was born/arose
• jajñe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• tasmāt: from that
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• ākāśaḥ: ether/space
• ākāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ākāśāt: from ether
• ākāśāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhavat: came to be
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sparśaḥ: touch
• sparśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: from that
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāyuḥ: wind/air
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhūt: came to be
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sati: while existing/when it is so
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त) of √as (अस् धातु), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग); used as locative absolute (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/सप्तमी-absolute): 'when/while (it) exists'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Akasha
• Vayu
• Tamas
• Shabda
• Sparsha

FAQs

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

It maps the inner logic of manifestation: subtle qualities (sound, touch) arise first, then the gross elements (ether, air), guiding contemplation from the visible world back to its subtle causes.

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

By showing creation as an ordered unfolding of principles, it supports bhakti-based reflection that all elements and senses ultimately depend on a higher source, encouraging surrender to the Supreme beyond the elements.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) is indirectly echoed through the primacy of śabda (sound), reinforcing why accurate mantra pronunciation and sound-based discipline are foundational in Vedic practice.