Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 93

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

Devanagari script

एवं बहुविधाकारः शब्द आकाशसंभवः । वायव्यस्तु गुणः स्पर्शः स्पर्शश्च बहुधा स्मृतः ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ bahuvidhākāraḥ śabda ākāśasaṃbhavaḥ | vāyavyastu guṇaḥ sparśaḥ sparśaśca bahudhā smṛtaḥ || 93 ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പലവിധ രൂപങ്ങളുള്ള ശബ്ദം ആകാശത്തിൽ നിന്നു ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നു. വായുവിന്റെ പ്രത്യേകഗുണം സ്പർശം; സ്പർശവും പലവിധമെന്നു സ്മൃതികൾ പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of manner)

• बहुविध-आकारः: having many kinds of forms
• बहुविध-आकारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• शब्दः: sound
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• आकाश-सम्भवः: arising from ether
• आकाश-सम्भवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘आकाशस्य सम्भवः’

• वायव्यः: belonging to air
• वायव्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• गुणः: quality
• गुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्पर्शः: touch
• स्पर्शः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (गुणस्य नाम)

• स्पर्शः: touch
• स्पर्शः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/बहुत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in many ways)

• स्मृतः: is stated/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (is said/remembered)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links the sensory world to the elemental framework: sound arises with ether, and touch characterizes air—guiding the seeker to analyze experience as guṇas of tattvas rather than as the Self, aiding detachment and moksha-oriented discrimination.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by refining understanding: when sound and touch are known as elemental qualities, one can redirect the mind from sensory fascination toward sacred sound (nāma, mantra) and devotion to Vishnu as the transcendental reality beyond the elements.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse most closely aligns with Śikṣā (phonetics) through its focus on śabda (sound) and its varieties, providing a conceptual basis for why precise articulation and disciplined engagement with mantra are treated as powerful in Vedic practice.