Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

आदिसर्गे महाविष्णोर्लोकान्कर्त्तुं समुद्यतः । प्रकृतिः पुरुषश्चेति कालश्चेति त्रिधा भवेत् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

ādisarge mahāviṣṇorlokānkarttuṃ samudyataḥ | prakṛtiḥ puruṣaśceti kālaśceti tridhā bhavet || 28 ||

Translation

ಆದಿ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾವಿಷ್ಣು ಲೋಕಗಳನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ಉದ್ಧತನಾಗಿರುವಾಗ, ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕ್ರಮವು ತ್ರಿವಿಧ—ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ, ಪುರುಷ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಲ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ।

Word by Word

• ādisarge: In the first creation
• ādisarge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādisarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine

• mahāviṣṇoḥ: From Mahavishnu
• mahāviṣṇoḥ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāviṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine

• lokān: Worlds
• lokān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine

• kartum: To create/make
• kartum: None
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun/तुमुन्)

• samudyataḥ: Ready/Prepared
• samudyataḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samudyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine; Past Passive Participle

• prakṛtiḥ: Nature/Prakriti
• prakṛtiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine

• puruṣaḥ: Spirit/Purusha
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine

• ca: And
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• iti: Thus
• iti: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• kālaḥ: Time
• kālaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine

• ca: And
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• iti: Thus
• iti: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• tridhā: Threefold
• tridhā: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• bhavet: Became/Should be
• bhavet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Potential/Optative (Vidhi-Ling/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahavishnu

FAQs

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

It frames creation as governed by a triad—Prakṛti, Puruṣa, and Kāla—showing that the manifest universe arises through Nature energized by Consciousness and ordered by Time under Mahāviṣṇu’s sovereignty.

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

By identifying Mahāviṣṇu as the initiator of creation and the ruler over Prakṛti and Kāla, the verse supports bhakti as devotion to the supreme source who transcends yet directs cosmic processes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis on Kāla (Time) aligns with practical Vedic time-reckoning used in Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology/astronomy) for understanding cosmic cycles and selecting auspicious timings for rites.