Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

समुद्रास्तस्य रुधिरमाकाशमुदरं तथा । पवनश्चैव निश्वासस्तेजोऽग्निर्निम्नगाः शिराः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

samudrāstasya rudhiramākāśamudaraṃ tathā | pavanaścaiva niśvāsastejo'gnirnimnagāḥ śirāḥ || 20 ||

Translation

സമുദ്രങ്ങൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ രക്തം; ആകാശം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഉദരം. പവനം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നിശ്വാസം; അഗ്നി അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ തേജസ്; നദികൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ശിരകൾ॥२०॥

Word by Word

• समुद्राः: oceans
• समुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आकाशम्: sky/space
• आकाशम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उदरम्: belly/abdomen
• उदरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also)

• पवनः: wind
• पवनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• निश्वासः: breath
• निश्वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेजः: radiance/fire-energy
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निम्नगाः: rivers
• निम्नगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्नगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शिराः: veins
• शिराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Being
• Agni
• Vayu
• Akasha
• Samudra
• Nimnaga (rivers)

FAQs

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

It teaches Virat-darshana: seeing the universe as the living body of the Supreme, so the mind shifts from separation to unity—supporting detachment and moksha-oriented contemplation.

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

By identifying oceans, sky, wind, fire, and rivers as divine limbs, it turns ordinary nature into objects of reverence—strengthening Vishnu-bhakti through constant remembrance (smarana) in daily perception.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily tattva-viveka rather than a Vedanga technique; however, it aligns with Nirukta-style meaning-making by interpreting natural phenomena as symbolic correspondences for meditative understanding.