Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

असृजद्ब्राह्मणानेव पूर्वं ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः । आत्मतेजोऽभिनि र्वृत्तान्भास्कराग्निसमप्रभान् ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

asṛjadbrāhmaṇāneva pūrvaṃ brahmā prajāpatiḥ | ātmatejo'bhini rvṛttānbhāskarāgnisamaprabhān || 50 ||

Translation

ആദിയിൽ പ്രജാപതി ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ആദ്യം ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരെയേ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു; അവർ അവന്റെ സ്വതേജസ്സിൽ നിന്നുയർന്നവർ, സൂര്യാഗ്നിസമപ്രഭരായി ദീപ്തരായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• पूर्वम्: first/previously
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रजापतिः: the Lord of creatures (Prajāpati)
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular), ब्रह्मणः विशेषण-रूपेण (appositional epithet)

• आत्मतेजः: his own radiance
• आत्मतेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'of self' + 'splendour')

• अभिनिर्वृत्तान्: manifested/produced
• अभिनिर्वृत्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-नि-√वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); 'produced/manifested'

• भास्कराग्निसमप्रभान्: having brilliance equal to the sun and fire
• भास्कराग्निसमप्रभान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्कर + अग्नि + सम + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); समासः—(भास्कर-अग्नि)-सम-प्रभ (तत्पुरुष/उपमान-समासार्थः: 'having radiance equal to sun and fire')

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame; this verse narrates cosmological creation rather than direct speech)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Prajapati
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It links social-spiritual order to inner purity: the Brāhmaṇa principle is described as arising from tejas (spiritual radiance), implying that true authority in dharma rests on sattva, knowledge, and self-discipline rather than mere birth.

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

Indirectly, it sets the stage for bhakti and moksha-dharma by establishing that those who preserve sacred knowledge and worship (yajña, mantra, pūjā) should be luminous in conduct—devotion is meant to refine one’s tejas into God-oriented purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse supports the Vedic framework where Brāhmaṇas safeguard mantra and ritual correctness—foundational to Vedāṅga applications like Śikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), and Kalpa (ritual procedure), all requiring clarity and discipline symbolized by 'sun-and-fire-like' brilliance.